Fused heterocyclic compounds as selective BMP inhibitors

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides small molecule inhibitors of BMP signaling. These compounds may be used to modulate cell growth, differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis, and thus may be useful for treating diseases or conditions associated with BMP signaling, including inflammation, cardiovascular disease, hematological disease, cancer, and bone disorders, as well as for modulating cellular differentiation and/or proliferation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Signaling involving the Transforming Growth Factor β (TGF-β) superfamilyof ligands is central to a wide range of cellular processes, includingcell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. TGF-β signaling involvesbinding of a TGF-β ligand to a type II receptor (a serine/threoninekinase), which recruits and phosphorylates a type I receptor. The type Ireceptor then phosphorylates a receptor-regulated SMAD (R-SMAD; e.g.,SMAD1, SMAD2, SMAD3, SMAD5, SMAD8 or SMAD9), which binds to SMAD4, andthe SMAD complex then enters the nucleus where it plays a role intranscriptional regulation. The TGF superfamily of ligands includes twomajor branches, characterized by TGF-β/activin/nodal and BoneMorphogenetic Proteins (BMPs).

Signals mediated by bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands servediverse roles throughout the life of vertebrates. During embryogenesis,the dorsoventral axis is established by BMP signaling gradients formedby the coordinated expression of ligands, receptors, co-receptors, andsoluble antagonists (Massague et al. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell. Biol.1:169-178, 2000). Excess BMP signaling causes ventralization, anexpansion of ventral at the expense of dorsal structures, whilediminished BMP signaling causes dorsalization, an expansion of dorsal atthe expense of ventral structures (Nguyen et al. Dev. Biol. 199: 93-110,1998; Furthauer et al. Dev. Biol. 214:181-196, 1999; Mintzer et al.Development 128:859-869, 2001; Schmid et al. Development 127:957-967,2000). BMPs are key regulators of gastrulation, mesoderm induction,organogenesis, and endochondral bone formation, and regulate the fatesof multipotent cell populations (Zhao, Genesis 35:43-56, 2003). BMPsignals also play critical roles in physiology and disease, and areimplicated in primary pulmonary hypertension, hereditary hemorrhagictelangiectasia syndrome, fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, andjuvenile polyposis syndrome (Waite et al. Nat. Rev. Genet. 4:763-773,2003; Papanikolaou et al. Nat. Genet. 36:77-82, 2004; Shore et al. Nat.Genet. 38:525-527, 2006).

The BMP signaling family is a diverse subset of the TGF-β superfamily(Sebald et al. Biol. Chem. 385:697-710, 2004). Over twenty known BMPligands are recognized by three distinct type II (BMPRII, ActRIIa, andActRIIb) and at least three type I (ALK2, ALK3, and ALK6) receptors.Dimeric ligands facilitate assembly of receptor heteromers, allowing theconstitutively-active type II receptor serine/threonine kinases tophosphorylate type I receptor serine/threonine kinases. Activated type Ireceptors phosphorylate BMP-responsive (BR-) SMAD effectors (SMADs 1, 5,and 8) to facilitate nuclear translocation in complex with SMAD4, aco-SMAD that also facilitates TGF signaling. In addition, BMP signalscan activate intracellular effectors such as MAPK p38 in aSMAD-independent manner (Nohe et al. Cell Signal 16:291-299, 2004).Soluble BMP antagonists such as noggin, chordin, gremlin, andfollistatin limit BMP signaling by ligand sequestration.

A role for BMP signals in regulating expression of hepcidin, a peptidehormone and central regulator of systemic iron balance, has also beensuggested (Pigeon et al. J. Biol. Chem. 276:7811-7819, 2001; Fraenkel etal. J. Clin. Invest. 115:1532-1541, 2005; Nicolas et al. Proc. Natl.Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 99:4596-4601, 2002; Nicolas et al. Nat. Genet.34:97-101, 2003). Hepcidin binds and promotes degradation offerroportin, the sole iron exporter in vertebrates. Loss of ferroportinactivity prevents mobilization of iron to the bloodstream fromintracellular stores in enterocytes, macrophages, and hepatocytes(Nemeth et al. Science 306:2090-2093, 2004). The link between BMPsignaling and iron metabolism represents a potential target fortherapeutics.

Given the tremendous structural diversity of the BMP and TGF-βsuperfamily at the level of ligands (>25 distinct ligands at present)and receptors (three type I and three type II receptors that recognizeBMPs), and the heterotetrameric manner of receptor binding, traditionalapproaches for inhibiting BMP signals via soluble receptors, endogenousinhibitors, or neutralizing antibodies are not practical or effective.Endogenous inhibitors such as noggin and follistatin have limitedspecificity for ligand subclasses. Single receptors have limitedaffinity for ligand, whereas ligand heterotetramers exhibit ratherprecise specificity for particular ligands. Neutralizing antibodies arespecific for particular ligands or receptors and are also limited by thestructural diversity of this signaling system. Thus, there is a need inthe art for pharmacologic agents that specifically antagonize BMPsignaling pathways and that can be used to manipulate these pathways intherapeutic or experimental applications, such as those listed above.

SUMMARY

In accordance with the purpose(s) of the invention, as embodied andbroadly described herein, the invention, in one aspect, relates tocompounds useful as modulators of the BMP signaling pathway, methods ofmaking same, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and methods oftreating disorders associated with BMP signaling.

Disclosed is a method for the treatment of a disease state associatedwith modulating the BMP signaling pathway in a subject comprisingadministering to a subject in need thereof at least one compound in adosage and amount effective to treat the disease state in the subject,the compound having a structure represented by the following formula(I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for modulating the BMP signaling pathwaycomprising administering to a subject in need thereof at least onecompound in a dosage and amount effective to modulate BMP signaling, thecompound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of anemia, including irondeficiency, and anemia of chronic disease, comprising administering to asubject in need thereof at least one compound in a dosage and amounteffective to treat the anemia, the compound having a structurerepresented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of fibrodysplasiaossificans progressiva (FOP), comprising administering to a subject inneed thereof at least one compound in a dosage and amount effective totreat FOP, the compound having a structure represented by the followingformula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting the oncogenesis, growth, ormetastasis of solid tumors, including breast, prostate carcinomas, bone,lung, and renal cell carcinomas, comprising administering to a subjectin need thereof at least one compound in a dosage and amount effectiveto inhibit ontogenesis, the compound having a structure represented bythe following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of augmenting the inflammatory or immuneresponse administering to a subject in need thereof at least onecompound in a dosage and amount effective to augment the response, thecompound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of treating pathologic bone functionadministering to a subject in need thereof at least one compound in adosage and amount effective to treat pathologic bone function, thecompound having a structure represented by the formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for treating ectopic or maladaptive boneformation in a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to asubject in need thereof at least one compound in a dosage and amounteffective to treat ectopic or maladaptive bone formation, the compoundhaving a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of treating a skin disease in a subject inneed thereof, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof atleast one compound in a dosage and amount effective to treat the skindisease, the compound having a structure represented by the followingformula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of treating hypertension in a subject in needthereof, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof at leastone compound in a dosage and amount effective to treat hypertension, thecompound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of treating ventricular hypertrophy in asubject in need thereof, comprising administering to a subject in needthereof at least one compound in a dosage and amount effective to treatventricular hypertrophy, the compound having a structure represented bythe following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of treating spinal cord injury and neuropathyin a subject in need thereof, comprising administering to a subject inneed thereof at least one compound in a dosage and amount effective totreat spinal cor, the compound having a structure represented by thefollowing formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods of treating atherosclerosis in a subject inneed thereof, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof atleast one compound in a dosage and amount effective to modulate BMPsignaling, the compound having a structure represented by the followingformula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for treating acute megakaryoblastic leukemia,comprising administering to a subject in need thereof at least onecompound in a dosage and amount effective to propagate a cell, thecompound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C ₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for at least one of promoting or enhancingliver restoration of liver mass, treating liver damage, treating liverdisease, or treating acetaminophen overdose in a subject in needthereof, comprising administering to a subject in need thereof at leastone compound in a dosage and amount effective to propagate a cell, thecompound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for at least one of treating heart disease,treating heart damage, promoting, inducing, or enhancing modulation ofepicardial activation and epithelial-to-mesenchyme transition; or amethod of inducing, enhancing, or promoting cardiomyocyte formation;comprising administering to a subject in need thereof at least onecompound in a dosage and amount effective to propagate a cell, thecompound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are methods for at least one of propagation, engraftment,and differentiation of progenitor cells, comprising administering to asubject in need thereof at least one compound in a dosage and amounteffective to propagate a cell, the compound having a structurerepresented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are also disclosed are compounds and compositions thatcomprises the compounds disclosed herein. The compounds disclosed hereininclude those having a structure represented by the formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Other embodiments of the present invention include methods of treatingat least one of myocardial ischemic injury, retinopathy of prematurity,diabetic retinopathy, and wet macular degeneration, aortic valvecalcification (both native and prosthetic), vascular calcification,diabetic nephropathy and renal fibrosis, hereditary spastic paraplegias,dystrophic phenotype in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy, inflammatory boweldisease, childhood leukemias, cancer metastasis by targeting lymphaticsand primary tumor growth; and methods of promoting liver regenerationand healing following acute injury, including hepatotoxin exposure suchas Tylenol overdose; by administering an effective amount of a compoundof the present invention to a subject in need thereof.

Additional advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in thedescription which follows, and in part will be obvious from thedescription, or can be learned by practice of the invention. Theadvantages of the invention will be realized and attained by means ofthe elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appendedclaims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing generaldescription and the following detailed description are exemplary andexplanatory only and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to thefollowing detailed description of the invention and the Examplesincluded therein.

Before the present compounds, compositions, articles, systems, devices,and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood thatthey are not limited to specific synthetic methods unless otherwisespecified, or to particular reagents unless otherwise specified, as suchmay, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminologyused herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only andis not intended to be limiting. Although any methods and materialssimilar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in thepractice or testing of the present invention, example methods andmaterials are now described.

All publications mentioned herein are incorporated herein by referenceto disclose and describe the methods and/or materials in connection withwhich the publications are cited. The publications discussed herein areprovided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of thepresent application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admissionthat the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publicationby virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication providedherein can be different from the actual publication dates, which need tobe independently confirmed.

A. Definitions

As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms“a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearlydictates otherwise. Thus, for example, reference to “a functionalgroup,” “an alkyl,” or “a residue” includes mixtures of two or more suchfunctional groups, alkyls, or residues, and the like.

Ranges can be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value,and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range isexpressed, a further aspect includes from the one particular valueand/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values areexpressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it willbe understood that the particular value forms a further aspect. It willbe further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges aresignificant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently ofthe other endpoint. It is also understood that there are a number ofvalues disclosed herein, and that each value is also herein disclosed as“about” that particular value in addition to the value itself. Forexample, if the value “10” is disclosed, then “about 10” is alsodisclosed. It is also understood that each unit between two particularunits are also disclosed. For example, if 10 and 15 are disclosed, then11, 12, 13, and 14 are also disclosed.

As used herein, the terms “optional” or “optionally” means that thesubsequently described event or circumstance can or can not occur, andthat the description includes instances where said event or circumstanceoccurs and instances where it does not.

As used herein, the term “subject” refers to a target of administration.The subject of the herein disclosed methods can be a vertebrate, such asa mammal, a fish, a bird, a reptile, insect, or an amphibian. Thus, thesubject of the herein disclosed methods can be a human, non-humanprimate, horse, pig, rabbit, dog, sheep, goat, cow, cat, guinea pig orrodent. The term does not denote a particular age or sex. Thus, adultand newborn subjects, as well as fetuses, whether male or female, areintended to be covered. A patient refers to a subject afflicted with adisease or disorder. The term “patient” includes human and veterinarysubjects.

In some aspects of the disclosed methods, the subject has been diagnosedwith a need for treatment that includes modulation of the BMP signalingpathway.

As used herein, the term “treatment” refers to the medical management ofa patient with the intent to cure, ameliorate, stabilize, or prevent adisease, pathological condition, or disorder. This term includes activetreatment, that is, treatment directed specifically toward theimprovement of a disease, pathological condition, or disorder, and alsoincludes causal treatment, that is, treatment directed toward removal ofthe cause of the associated disease, pathological condition, ordisorder. In addition, this term includes palliative treatment, that is,treatment designed for the relief of symptoms rather than the curing ofthe disease, pathological condition, or disorder; preventativetreatment, that is, treatment directed to minimizing or partially orcompletely inhibiting the development of the associated disease,pathological condition, or disorder; and supportive treatment, that is,treatment employed to supplement another specific therapy directedtoward the improvement of the associated disease, pathologicalcondition, or disorder.

As used herein, the term “prevent” or “preventing” refers to precluding,averting, obviating, forestalling, stopping, or hindering something fromhappening, especially by advance action. It is understood that wherereduce, inhibit or prevent are used herein, unless specificallyindicated otherwise, the use of the other two words is also expresslydisclosed.

As used herein, the term “diagnosed” means having been subjected to aphysical examination by a person of skill, for example, a physician, andfound to have a condition that can be diagnosed or treated by thecompounds, compositions, or methods disclosed herein. For example,“diagnosed with a disorder treatable by inhibition of bone morphogeneticprotein activity” means having been subjected to a physical examinationby a person of skill, for example, a physician, and found to have acondition that can be diagnosed or treated by a compound or compositionthat can favorably inhibit BMP or BMP activity. As a further example,“diagnosed with a need for inhibition of BMP or BMP activity” refers tohaving been subjected to a physical examination by a person of skill,for example, a physician, and found to have a condition characterized byabnormal BMP activity. Such a diagnosis can be in reference to adisorder, such as fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva, and the like,as discussed herein.

As used herein, the phrase “identified to be in need of treatment for adisorder,” or the like, refers to selection of a subject based upon needfor treatment of the disorder. For example, a subject can be identifiedas having a need for treatment of a disorder (e.g., a disorder relatedto abnormal BMP activity) based upon an earlier diagnosis by a person ofskill and thereafter subjected to treatment for the disorder. It iscontemplated that the identification can, in one aspect, be performed bya person different from the person making the diagnosis. It is alsocontemplated, in a further aspect, that the administration can beperformed by one who subsequently performed the administration.

As used herein, the terms “administering” and “administration” refer toany method of providing a pharmaceutical preparation to a subject. Suchmethods are well known to those skilled in the art and include, but arenot limited to, oral administration, transdermal administration,administration by inhalation, nasal administration, topicaladministration, intravaginal administration, ophthalmic administration,intraaural administration, intracerebral administration, rectaladministration, and parenteral administration, including injectable suchas intravenous administration, intra-arterial administration,intramuscular administration, and subcutaneous administration.Administration can be continuous or intermittent. In various aspects, apreparation can be administered therapeutically; that is, administeredto treat an existing disease or condition. In further various aspects, apreparation can be administered prophylactically; that is, administeredfor prevention of a disease or condition.

As used herein, the term “effective amount” refers to an amount that issufficient to achieve the desired result or to have an effect on anundesired condition. For example, a “therapeutically effective amount”refers to an amount that is sufficient to achieve the desiredtherapeutic result or to have an effect on undesired symptoms, but isgenerally insufficient to cause adverse side affects. The specifictherapeutically effective dose level for any particular patient willdepend upon a variety of factors including the disorder being treatedand the severity of the disorder; the specific composition employed; theage, body weight, general health, sex and diet of the patient; the timeof administration; the route of administration; the rate of excretion ofthe specific compound employed; the duration of the treatment; drugsused in combination or coincidental with the specific compound employedand like factors well known in the medical arts. For example, it is wellwithin the skill of the art to start doses of a compound at levels lowerthan those required to achieve the desired therapeutic effect and togradually increase the dosage until the desired effect is achieved. Ifdesired, the effective daily dose can be divided into multiple doses forpurposes of administration. Consequently, single dose compositions cancontain such amounts or submultiples thereof to make up the daily dose.The dosage can be adjusted by the individual physician in the event ofany contraindications. Dosage can vary, and can be administered in oneor more dose administrations daily, for one or several days. Guidancecan be found in the literature for appropriate dosages for given classesof pharmaceutical products. In further various aspects, a preparationcan be administered in a “prophylactically effective amount”; that is,an amount effective for prevention of a disease or condition.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable carrier” refers tosterile aqueous or nonaqueous solutions, dispersions, suspensions oremulsions, as well as sterile powders for reconstitution into sterileinjectable solutions or dispersions just prior to use. Examples ofsuitable aqueous and nonaqueous carriers, diluents, solvents or vehiclesinclude water, ethanol, polyols (such as glycerol, propylene glycol,polyethylene glycol and the like), carboxymethylcellulose and suitablemixtures thereof, vegetable oils (such as olive oil) and injectableorganic esters such as ethyl oleate. Proper fluidity can be maintained,for example, by the use of coating materials such as lecithin, by themaintenance of the required particle size in the case of dispersions andby the use of surfactants. These compositions can also contain adjuvantssuch as preservatives, wetting agents, emulsifying agents and dispersingagents. Prevention of the action of microorganisms can be ensured by theinclusion of various antibacterial and antifungal agents such asparaben, chlorobutanol, phenol, sorbic acid and the like. It can also bedesirable to include isotonic agents such as sugars, sodium chloride andthe like. Prolonged absorption of the injectable pharmaceutical form canbe brought about by the inclusion of agents, such as aluminummonostearate and gelatin, which delay absorption. Injectable depot formsare made by forming microencapsule matrices of the drug in biodegradablepolymers such as polylactide-polyglycolide, poly(orthoesters) andpoly(anhydrides). Depending upon the ratio of drug to polymer and thenature of the particular polymer employed, the rate of drug release canbe controlled. Depot injectable formulations are also prepared byentrapping the drug in liposomes or microemulsions which are compatiblewith body tissues. The injectable formulations can be sterilized, forexample, by filtration through a bacterial-retaining filter or byincorporating sterilizing agents in the form of sterile solidcompositions which can be dissolved or dispersed in sterile water orother sterile injectable media just prior to use. Suitable inertcarriers can include sugars such as lactose. Desirably, at least 95% byweight of the particles of the active ingredient have an effectiveparticle size in the range of 0.01 to 10 micrometers.

A residue of a chemical species, as used in the specification andconcluding claims, refers to the moiety that is the resulting product ofthe chemical species in a particular reaction scheme or subsequentformulation or chemical product, regardless of whether the moiety isactually obtained from the chemical species. Thus, an ethylene glycolresidue in a polyester refers to one or more —OCH₂CH₂O— units in thepolyester, regardless of whether ethylene glycol was used to prepare thepolyester. Similarly, a sebacic acid residue in a polyester refers toone or more —CO(CH₂)₈CO— moieties in the polyester, regardless ofwhether the residue is obtained by reacting sebacic acid or an esterthereof to obtain the polyester.

As used herein, the term “substituted” is contemplated to include allpermissible substituents of organic compounds. In a broad aspect, thepermissible substituents include acyclic and cyclic, branched andunbranched, carbocyclic and heterocyclic, and aromatic and nonaromaticsubstituents of organic compounds. Illustrative substituents include,for example, those described below. The permissible substituents can beone or more and the same or different for appropriate organic compounds.For purposes of this disclosure, the heteroatoms, such as nitrogen, canhave hydrogen substituents and/or any permissible substituents oforganic compounds described herein which satisfy the valences of theheteroatoms. This disclosure is not intended to be limited in any mannerby the permissible substituents of organic compounds. Also, the terms“substitution” or “substituted with” include the implicit proviso thatsuch substitution is in accordance with permitted valence of thesubstituted atom and the substituent, and that the substitution resultsin a stable compound, e.g., a compound that does not spontaneouslyundergo transformation such as by rearrangement, cyclization,elimination, etc.

In defining various terms, “A¹,” “A²,” “A³,” and “A⁴” are used herein asgeneric symbols to represent various specific substituents. Thesesymbols can be any substituent, not limited to those disclosed herein,and when they are defined to be certain substituents in one instance,they can, in another instance, be defined as some other substituents.

The term “alkyl” as used herein is a branched or unbranched saturatedhydrocarbon group of 1 to 24 carbon atoms, such as methyl, ethyl,n-propyl, isopropyl, n-butyl, isobutyl, s-butyl, t-butyl, n-pentyl,isopentyl, s-pentyl, neopentyl, hexyl, heptyl, octyl, nonyl, decyl,dodecyl, tetradecyl, hexadecyl, eicosyl, tetracosyl, and the like. Thealkyl group can be cyclic or acyclic. The alkyl group can be branched orunbranched. The alkyl group can also be substituted or unsubstituted.For example, the alkyl group can be substituted with one or more groupsincluding, but not limited to, optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl,alkoxy, amino, ether, halide, hydroxy, nitro, silyl, sulfo-oxo, orthiol, as described herein. A “lower alkyl” group is an alkyl groupcontaining from one to six (e.g., from one to four) carbon atoms.

Throughout the specification “alkyl” is generally used to refer to bothunsubstituted alkyl groups and substituted alkyl groups; however,substituted alkyl groups are also specifically referred to herein byidentifying the specific substituent(s) on the alkyl group. For example,the term “halogenated alkyl” specifically refers to an alkyl group thatis substituted with one or more halide, e.g., fluorine, chlorine,bromine, or iodine. The term “alkoxyalkyl” specifically refers to analkyl group that is substituted with one or more alkoxy groups, asdescribed below. The term “alkylamino” specifically refers to an alkylgroup that is substituted with one or more amino groups, as describedbelow, and the like. When “alkyl” is used in one instance and a specificterm such as “alkylalcohol” is used in another, it is not meant to implythat the term “alkyl” does not also refer to specific terms such as“alkylalcohol” and the like.

This practice is also used for other groups described herein. That is,while a term such as “cycloalkyl” refers to both unsubstituted andsubstituted cycloalkyl moieties, the substituted moieties can, inaddition, be specifically identified herein; for example, a particularsubstituted cycloalkyl can be referred to as, e.g., an“alkylcycloalkyl.” Similarly, a substituted alkoxy can be specificallyreferred to as, e.g., a “halogenated alkoxy,” a particular substitutedalkenyl can be, e.g., an “alkenylalcohol,” and the like. Again, thepractice of using a general term, such as “cycloalkyl,” and a specificterm, such as “alkylcycloalkyl,” is not meant to imply that the generalterm does not also include the specific term.

The term “cycloalkyl” as used herein is a non-aromatic carbon-based ringcomposed of at least three carbon atoms. Examples of cycloalkyl groupsinclude, but are not limited to, cyclopropyl, cyclobutyl, cyclopentyl,cyclohexyl, norbornyl, and the like. The term “heterocycloalkyl” is atype of cycloalkyl group as defined above, and is included within themeaning of the term “cycloalkyl,” where at least one of the carbon atomsof the ring is replaced with a heteroatom such as, but not limited to,nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus. The cycloalkyl group andheterocycloalkyl group can be substituted or unsubstituted. Thecycloalkyl group and heterocycloalkyl group can be substituted with oneor more groups including, but not limited to, optionally substitutedalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, amino, ether, halide, hydroxy, nitro, silyl,sulfo-oxo, or thiol as described herein.

The term “polyalkylene group” as used herein is a group having two ormore CH₂ groups linked to one another. The polyalkylene group can berepresented by a formula —(CH₂)_(a), where “a” is an integer of from 2to 500.

The terms “alkoxy” and “alkoxyl” as used herein to refer to an alkyl orcycloalkyl group bonded through an ether linkage; that is, an “alkoxy”group can be defined as -OA¹ where A¹ is alkyl or cycloalkyl as definedabove. “Alkoxy” also includes polymers of alkoxy groups as justdescribed; that is, an alkoxy can be a polyether such as —OA¹-OA² or-OA¹-(OA²)_(a)-OA³, where “a” is an integer of from 1 to 200 and A¹, A²,and A³ are alkyl and/or cycloalkyl groups.

The term “alkenyl” as used herein is a hydrocarbon group of from 2 to 24carbon atoms with a structural formula containing at least onecarbon-carbon double bond. Asymmetric structures such as (A¹A²)C═C(A³A⁴)are intended to include both the E and Z isomers. This can be presumedin structural formulae herein wherein an asymmetric alkene is present,or it can be explicitly indicated by the bond symbol C═C. The alkenylgroup can be substituted with one or more groups including, but notlimited to, optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl,cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aldehyde, amino,carboxylic acid, ester, ether, halide, hydroxy, ketone, azide, nitro,silyl, sulfo-oxo, or thiol, as described herein.

The term “cycloalkenyl” as used herein is a non-aromatic carbon-basedring composed of at least three carbon atoms and containing at least onecarbon-carbon double bound, i.e., C═C. Examples of cycloalkenyl groupsinclude, but are not limited to, cyclopropenyl, cyclobutenyl,cyclopentenyl, cyclopentadienyl, cyclohexenyl, cyclohexadienyl,norbornenyl, and the like. The term “heterocycloalkenyl” is a type ofcycloalkenyl group as defined above, and is included within the meaningof the term “cycloalkenyl,” where at least one of the carbon atoms ofthe ring is replaced with a heteroatom such as, but not limited to,nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus. The cycloalkenyl group andheterocycloalkenyl group can be substituted or unsubstituted. Thecycloalkenyl group and heterocycloalkenyl group can be substituted withone or more groups including, but not limited to, optionally substitutedalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl,aryl, heteroaryl, aldehyde, amino, carboxylic acid, ester, ether,halide, hydroxy, ketone, azide, nitro, silyl, sulfo-oxo, or thiol asdescribed herein.

The term “alkynyl” as used herein is a hydrocarbon group of 2 to 24carbon atoms with a structural formula containing at least onecarbon-carbon triple bond. The alkynyl group can be unsubstituted orsubstituted with one or more groups including, but not limited to,optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aldehyde, amino, carboxylicacid, ester, ether, halide, hydroxy, ketone, azide, nitro, silyl,sulfo-oxo, or thiol, as described herein.

The term “cycloalkynyl” as used herein is a non-aromatic carbon-basedring composed of at least seven carbon atoms and containing at least onecarbon-carbon triple bound. Examples of cycloalkynyl groups include, butare not limited to, cycloheptynyl, cyclooctynyl, cyclononynyl, and thelike. The term “heterocycloalkynyl” is a type of cycloalkenyl group asdefined above, and is included within the meaning of the term“cycloalkynyl,” where at least one of the carbon atoms of the ring isreplaced with a heteroatom such as, but not limited to, nitrogen,oxygen, sulfur, or phosphorus. The cycloalkynyl group andheterocycloalkynyl group can be substituted or unsubstituted. Thecycloalkynyl group and heterocycloalkynyl group can be substituted withone or more groups including, but not limited to, optionally substitutedalkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl,aryl, heteroaryl, aldehyde, amino, carboxylic acid, ester, ether,halide, hydroxy, ketone, azide, nitro, silyl, sulfo-oxo, or thiol asdescribed herein.

The term “aryl” as used herein is a group that contains any carbon-basedaromatic group including, but not limited to, benzene, naphthalene,phenyl, biphenyl, phenoxybenzene, and the like. The term “aryl” alsoincludes “heteroaryl,” which is defined as a group that contains anaromatic group that has at least one heteroatom incorporated within thering of the aromatic group. Examples of heteroatoms include, but are notlimited to, nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur, and phosphorus. Likewise, the term“non-heteroaryl,” which is also included in the term “aryl,” defines agroup that contains an aromatic group that does not contain aheteroatom. The aryl group can be substituted or unsubstituted. The arylgroup can be substituted with one or more groups including, but notlimited to, optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl,cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, heteroaryl, aldehyde, amino,carboxylic acid, ester, ether, halide, hydroxy, ketone, azide, nitro,silyl, sulfo-oxo, or thiol as described herein. The term “biaryl” is aspecific type of aryl group and is included in the definition of “aryl.”Biaryl refers to two aryl groups that are bound together via a fusedring structure, as in naphthalene, or are attached via one or morecarbon-carbon bonds, as in biphenyl.

The term “aldehyde” as used herein is represented by a formula —C(O)H.Throughout this specification “C(O)” is a short hand notation for acarbonyl group, i.e., C═O.

The terms “amine” or “amino” as used herein are represented by a formulaNA¹A²A³, where A¹, A², and A³ can be, independently, hydrogen oroptionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group as described herein.

The term “carboxylic acid” as used herein is represented by a formula—C(O)OH.

The term “ester” as used herein is represented by a formula —OC(O)A¹ or—C(O)OA¹, where A¹ can be an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl,alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl groupas described herein. The term “polyester” as used herein is representedby a formula -(A¹O(O)C-A²-C(O)O)_(a)— or -(A¹O(O)C-A²-OC(O))_(a)—, whereA¹ and A² can be, independently, an optionally substituted alkyl,cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, orheteroaryl group described herein and “a” is an integer from 1 to 500.“Polyester” is as the term used to describe a group that is produced bythe reaction between a compound having at least two carboxylic acidgroups with a compound having at least two hydroxyl groups.

The term “ether” as used herein is represented by a formula A¹OA², whereA¹ and A² can be, independently, an optionally substituted alkyl,cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, orheteroaryl group described herein. The term “polyether” as used hereinis represented by a formula -(A¹O-A²O)_(n)—, where A¹ and A² can be,independently, an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl,cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group describedherein and “a” is an integer of from 1 to 500. Examples of polyethergroups include polyethylene oxide, polypropylene oxide, and polybutyleneoxide.

The term “halide” as used herein refers to the halogens fluorine,chlorine, bromine, and iodine.

The term “heterocycle,” as used herein refers to single and multi-cyclicaromatic or non-aromatic ring systems in which at least one of the ringmembers is other than carbon. Heterocycle includes pyridinde,pyrimidine, furan, thiophene, pyrrole, isoxazole, isothiazole, pyrazole,oxazole, thiazole, imidazole, oxazole, including, 1,2,3-oxadiazole,1,2,5-oxadiazole and 1,3,4-oxadiazole,thiadiazole, including,1,2,3-thiadiazole, 1,2,5-thiadiazole, and 1,3,4-thiadiazole, triazole,including, 1,2,3-triazole, 1,3,4-triazole, tetrazole, including1,2,3,4-tetrazole and 1,2,4,5-tetrazole, pyridine, pyridazine,pyrimidine, pyrazine, triazine, including 1,2,4-triazine and1,3,5-triazine, tetrazine, including 1,2,4,5-tetrazine, pyrrolidine,piperidine, piperazine, morpholine, azetidine, tetrahydropyran,tetrahydrofuran, dioxane, and the like.

The term “hydroxyl” as used herein is represented by a formula —OH.

The term “ketone” as used herein is represented by a formula A¹C(O)A²,where A¹ and A² can be, independently, an optionally substituted alkyl,cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, orheteroaryl group as described herein.

The term “azide” as used herein is represented by a formula —N₃.

The term “nitro” as used herein is represented by a formula —NO₂.

The term “nitrile” as used herein is represented by a formula —CN.

The term “silyl” as used herein is represented by a formula —SiA¹A²A³,where A¹, A², and A³ can be, independently, hydrogen or an optionallysubstituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkoxy, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl,cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group as described herein.

The term “sulfo-oxo” as used herein is represented by a formulas—S(O)A¹, —S(O)₂A¹, —OS(O)₂A¹, or —OS(O)₂OA¹, where A¹ can be hydrogen oran optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group as described herein.Throughout this specification “S(O)” is a short hand notation for S═O.The term “sulfonyl” is used herein to refer to the sulfo-oxo grouprepresented by a formula —S(O)₂A¹, where A¹ can be hydrogen or anoptionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl,alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group as described herein.The term “sulfone” as used herein is represented by a formula A¹S(O)₂A²,where A¹ and A² can be, independently, an optionally substituted alkyl,cycloalkyl, alkenyl, cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, orheteroaryl group as described herein. The term “sulfoxide” as usedherein is represented by a formula A¹S(O)A², where A¹ and A² can be,independently, an optionally substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl, alkenyl,cycloalkenyl, alkynyl, cycloalkynyl, aryl, or heteroaryl group asdescribed herein.

The term “thiol” as used herein is represented by a formula —SH.

The term “organic residue” defines a carbon containing residue, i.e., aresidue comprising at least one carbon atom, and includes but is notlimited to the carbon-containing groups, residues, or radicals definedhereinabove. Organic residues can contain various heteroatoms, or bebonded to another molecule through a heteroatom, including oxygen,nitrogen, sulfur, phosphorus, or the like. Examples of organic residuesinclude but are not limited alkyl or substituted alkyls, alkoxy orsubstituted alkoxy, mono or di-substituted amino, amide groups, etc.Organic residues can preferably comprise 1 to 18 carbon atoms, 1 to 15,carbon atoms, 1 to 12 carbon atoms, 1 to 8 carbon atoms, 1 to 6 carbonatoms, or 1 to 4 carbon atoms. In a further aspect, an organic residuecan comprise 2 to 18 carbon atoms, 2 to 15, carbon atoms, 2 to 12 carbonatoms, 2 to 8 carbon atoms, 2 to 4 carbon atoms, or 2 to 4 carbon atoms

A very close synonym of the term “residue” is the term “radical,” whichas used in the specification and concluding claims, refers to afragment, group, or substructure of a molecule described herein,regardless of how the molecule is prepared. For example, a2,4-thiazolidinedione radical in a particular compound has the structure

regardless of whether thiazolidinedione is used to prepare the compound.In some aspects the radical (for example an alkyl) can be furthermodified (i.e., substituted alkyl) by having bonded thereto one or more“substituent radicals.” The number of atoms in a given radical is notcritical to the present invention unless it is indicated to the contraryelsewhere herein.

Organic radicals,” as the term is defined and used herein, contain oneor more carbon atoms. An organic radical can have, for example, 1-26carbon atoms, 1-18 carbon atoms, 1-12 carbon atoms, 1-8 carbon atoms,1-6 carbon atoms, or 1-4 carbon atoms. In a further aspect, an organicradical can have 2-26 carbon atoms, 2-18 carbon atoms, 2-12 carbonatoms, 2-8 carbon atoms, 2-6 carbon atoms, or 2-4 carbon atoms. Organicradicals often have hydrogen bound to at least some of the carbon atomsof the organic radical. One example, of an organic radical thatcomprises no inorganic atoms is a 5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-2-naphthyl radical.In some aspects, an organic radical can contain 1-10 inorganicheteroatoms bound thereto or therein, including halogens, oxygen,sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus, and the like. Examples of organic radicalsinclude but are not limited to an alkyl, substituted alkyl, cycloalkyl,substituted cycloalkyl, mono-substituted amino, di-substituted amino,acyloxy, cyano, carboxy, carboalkoxy, alkylcarboxamide, substitutedalkylcarboxamide, dialkylcarboxamide, substituted dialkylcarboxamide,alkylsulfonyl, alkylsulfinyl, thioalkyl, thiohaloalkyl, alkoxy,substituted alkoxy, haloalkyl, haloalkoxy, aryl, substituted aryl,heteroaryl, heterocyclic, or substituted heterocyclic radicals, whereinthe terms are defined elsewhere herein. A few non-limiting examples oforganic radicals that include heteroatoms include alkoxy radicals,trifluoromethoxy radicals, acetoxy radicals, dimethylamino radicals andthe like.

“Inorganic radicals,” as the term is defined and used herein, contain nocarbon atoms and therefore comprise only atoms other than carbon.Inorganic radicals comprise bonded combinations of atoms selected fromhydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen, silicon, phosphorus, sulfur, selenium, andhalogens such as fluorine, chlorine, bromine, and iodine, which can bepresent individually or bonded together in their chemically stablecombinations. Inorganic radicals have 10 or fewer, or preferably one tosix or one to four inorganic atoms as listed above bonded together.Examples of inorganic radicals include, but not limited to, amino,hydroxy, halogens, nitro, thiol, sulfate, phosphate, and like commonlyknown inorganic radicals. The inorganic radicals do not have bondedtherein the metallic elements of the periodic table (such as the alkalimetals, alkaline earth metals, transition metals, lanthanide metals, oractinide metals), although such metal ions can sometimes serve as apharmaceutically acceptable cation for anionic inorganic radicals suchas a sulfate, phosphate, or like anionic inorganic radical. Typically,inorganic radicals do not comprise metalloids elements such as boron,aluminum, gallium, germanium, arsenic, tin, lead, or tellurium, or thenoble gas elements, unless otherwise specifically indicated elsewhereherein.

The term “pharmaceutically acceptable” describes a material that is notbiologically or otherwise undesirable, i.e., without causing anunacceptable level of undesirable biological effects or interacting in adeleterious manner.

As used herein, the term “derivative” refers to a compound having astructure derived from the structure of a parent compound (e.g., acompounds disclosed herein) and whose structure is sufficiently similarto those disclosed herein and based upon that similarity, would beexpected by one skilled in the art to exhibit the same or similaractivities and utilities as the claimed compounds, or to induce, as aprecursor, the same or similar activities and utilities as the claimedcompounds. Exemplary derivatives include salts, esters, amides, salts ofesters or amides, and N-oxides of a parent compound.

The term “hydrolysable residue” is meant to refer to a functional groupcapable of undergoing hydrolysis, e.g., under basic or acidicconditions. Examples of hydrolysable residues include, withoutlimitation, residues of acid halides or activated carboxylic acids,residues of trialkylsilyl halides, residues of alkyloxymethyl halides,and various other protecting groups known in the art (see, for example,“Protective Groups in Organic Synthesis,” T. W. Greene, P. G. M. Wuts,Wiley-Interscience, 1999).

The term “leaving group” refers to an atom (or a group of atoms) withelectron withdrawing ability that can be displaced as a stable species,taking with it the bonding electrons. Examples of suitable leavinggroups include sulfonate esters, including, but not limited to,triflate, mesylate, tosylate, brosylate, and halides.

Compounds described herein can contain one or more double bonds and,thus, potentially give rise to cis/trans (E/Z) isomers, as well as otherconformational isomers. Unless stated to the contrary, the inventionincludes all such possible isomers, as well as mixtures of such isomers.

Unless stated to the contrary, a formula with chemical bonds shown onlyas solid lines and not as wedges or dashed lines contemplates eachpossible isomer, e.g., each enantiomer and diastereomer, and a mixtureof isomers, such as a racemic or scalemic mixture. Compounds describedherein can contain one or more asymmetric centers and, thus, potentiallygive rise to diastereomers and optical isomers. Unless stated to thecontrary, the present invention includes all such possible diastereomersas well as their racemic mixtures, their substantially pure resolvedenantiomers, all possible geometric isomers, and pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof. Mixtures of stereoisomers, as well as isolatedspecific stereoisomers, are also included. During the course of thesynthetic procedures used to prepare such compounds, or in usingracemization or epimerization procedures known to those skilled in theart, the products of such procedures can be a mixture of stereoisomers.

Of course, when a variable is present in more than one instance, it maybe the same or different in each occurrence. In other words, eachvariable is independent from the other. In some aspects, a structure ofa compound can be represented by a formula:

which is understood to be equivalent to a formula:

wherein n is typically an integer. That is, R^(n) is understood torepresent five independent substituents, R^(n(a)), R^(n(b)), R^(n(c)),R^(n(d)), R^(n(e)). By “independent substituents,” it is meant that eachR substituent can be independently defined. For example, if in oneinstance R^(n(a)) is halogen, then R^(n(b)) is not necessarily halogenin that instance. Likewise, when a group R is defined as foursubstituents, R is understood to represent four independentsubstituents, R^(a), R^(b), R^(c), and R^(d). Unless indicated to thecontrary, the substituents are not limited to any particular order orarrangement.

The following abbreviations are used herein. DMP dimethyl formamide.EtOAc: ethyl acetate. THF: tetrahydrofuran. DIPEA or DIEA:diisopropylethylamine HOBt: 1-hydroxybenzotriazole. EDC:1-ethyl-3-[3-dimethylaminopropyl]carbodiimide hydrochloride. DMSO:dimethylsulfoxide. DMAP: 4-Dimethylaminopyridine. RT: Room temperature.h: Hours. Min: Minutes. DCM: Dichloromethane. MeCN: Acetonitrile. MeOH:methanol. iPrOH: 2-Propanol. n-BuOH: 1-Butanol.

Disclosed are the components to be used to prepare the compositions ofthe invention as well as the compositions themselves to be used withinthe methods disclosed herein. These and other materials are disclosedherein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets,interactions, groups, etc. of these materials are disclosed that whilespecific reference of each various individual and collectivecombinations and permutation of these compounds can not be explicitlydisclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein. Forexample, if a particular compound is disclosed and discussed and anumber of modifications that can be made to a number of moleculesincluding the compounds are discussed, specifically contemplated is eachand every combination and permutation of the compound and themodifications that are possible unless specifically indicated to thecontrary. Thus, if a class of molecules A, B, and C are disclosed aswell as a class of molecules D, E, and F and an example of a combinationmolecule, A-D is disclosed, then even if each is not individuallyrecited each is individually and collectively contemplated meaningcombinations, A-E, A-F, B-D, B-E, B-F, C-D, C-E, and C-F are considereddisclosed. Likewise, any subset or combination of these is alsodisclosed. Thus, for example, the sub-group of A-E, B-F, and C-E wouldbe considered disclosed. This concept applies to all aspects of thisapplication including, but not limited to, steps in methods of makingand using the compositions of the invention. Thus, if there are avariety of additional steps that can be performed it is understood thateach of these additional steps can be performed with any specific aspector combination of aspects of the methods of the invention.

It is understood that the compositions disclosed herein have certainfunctions. Disclosed herein are certain structural requirements forperforming the disclosed functions, and it is understood that there area variety of structures that can perform the same function that arerelated to the disclosed structures, and that these structures willtypically achieve the same result.

B. Compounds

In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds, or pharmaceuticallyacceptable derivatives thereof, useful as BMP inhibitors. In general, itis contemplated that each disclosed derivative can be optionally furthersubstituted. It is also contemplated that any one or more derivative canbe optionally omitted from the invention. It is understood that adisclosed compound can be provided by the disclosed methods. It is alsounderstood that the disclosed compounds can be employed in the disclosedmethods of using.

In one aspect, the present invention relates to compounds having astructure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are compounds of formula (I), where Z, X, and Y togetherhelp form:

Also disclosed are compounds of formula (I), where Z, X, and Y togetherhelp form:

Also disclosed are compounds having a structure represented by thefollowing formula (II):

wherein:

-   W and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are compounds having a structure represented by thefollowing formula (III):

wherein:

-   Z is N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

Also disclosed are compounds of formula (I), wherein

wherein A₁ is independently O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂, or can joinwith another A₁ to form C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or arylor heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or3-8 membered ring comprising C, O, S, and/or N.

Also disclosed are compounds of formula (I), wherein M is optionallysubstituted with one or more R, and is selected from C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkylor C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or aryl or heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkylor C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or 3-8 membered ring comprising C, O, S,and/or N.

Also disclosed are compounds where M is optionally substituted phenyl orpyridine.

Also disclosed are compounds of formula (I), where M, D, and E togetherform:

Also disclosed are compounds of formula (I), where A is chosen from thefollowing:

Also disclosed are compound of formula (I), of the following formula:

In yet other aspects, the invention relates to compounds having astructure represented by formula (I):

wherein:

X₁ is N, O, or CR₁;

X₂, and X₄ are independently N or CR₁;

X₃ is C or N;

Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ are independently N or CR₁;

D is C or N;

W is N or O;

W₁ is N, O or C;

Cy is optionally substituted with one or more R₁, and is selected fromC₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or aryl or heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or 3-8 membered ringcomprising C, O, S, and/or N.

R₁-R₄ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl, OC₁₋₁₀ alkyl (which may contain a C₃₋₈ membered ringcontaining C, O, S or N, optionally substituted with one or more R⁴),NR₁C₁₋₁₀ alkyl (which may contain a C₃₋₈ membered ring containing C, O,S or N, optionally substituted with one or more R⁴), CN or CF₃;

Z is optionally substituted with one or more R₁, and is selected fromC₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or aryl or heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or 3-8 membered ringcomprising C, O, S, and/or N.

Also disclosed are compounds wherein,

above, is

wherein A₁ is independently O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂, or can joinwith another A₁ to form C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or arylor heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or3-8 membered ring comprising C, O, S, and/or N.

Also disclosed are compounds wherein:

wherein:

X₁ is N, O, or CR₁;

X₂, and X₄ are independently N or CR₁;

X₃ is C or N;

Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ are independently N or CR₁;

Cy is a bond, or forms a ring that is optionally substituted with one ormore R₁, and is selected from C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenylor aryl or heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂heterocycloalkenyl or 3-8 membered ring comprising C, O, S, and/or N.

R₁-R₄ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl, OC₁₋₁₀ alkyl (which may contain a C₃₋₈ membered ringcontaining C, O, S or N, optionally substituted with one or more R⁴),NR₁C₁₋₁₀ alkyl (which may contain a C₃₋₈ membered ring containing C, O,S or N, optionally substituted with one or more R⁴), CN or CF₃;

Z is optionally substituted with one or more R₁, and is selected fromC₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or aryl or heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or 3-8 membered ringcomprising C, O, S, and/or N.

In one aspect, the invention relates to compounds having a structurerepresented by formula (I):

wherein:

X₁, X₂, X₃ and X₄ are independently N or CR₁;

X is N, O, or CR₁;

X₃ is C or N;

Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ are independently N or CR₁;

R₁-R₄ are independently selected from hydrogen, halogen, C₁₋₁₀ alkyl,C₃₋₁₀ cycloalkyl, OC₁₋₁₀ alkyl (which may contain a C₃₋₈ membered ringcontaining C, O, S or N, optionally substituted with one or more R⁴), CNor CF₃;

Z is optionally substituted with one or more R₁, and is selected fromC₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl or aryl or heteroaryl or C₃-C₁₂heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl or 3-8 membered ringcomprising C, O, S, and/or N.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein

(i) X₁ is O, X₂ is N, and X, X₃, X₄, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ are independently Cor CR₁;

(ii) X₁ is O, X₂ is N, Y₁ is N, and X, X₃, X₄, Y₂, and Y₃ areindependently C or CR₁;

(iii) X₁ is N, X₄ is N, and X₂, X₃, X₄, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ are independentlyC or CR₁;

(iv) X₁ is N, X₂ is N, Y₁ is N, and X, X₃, X₄, Y₂, and Y₃ areindependently C or CR₁;

(v) X₁ is N, X₂ is N, Y₂ is N, and X, X₃, X₄, Y₂, and Y₃ areindependently C or CR₁;

or

(vi) X₁ is N, X₃ is N, and X₂, X₃, X₄, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ are independentlyC or CR₁;

and wherein the remaining variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are compounds of the following formula:

wherein the variables are defined above.

Also disclosed are the following compounds:

The compounds disclosed herein can include all salt forms, for example,salts of both basic groups, inter alia, amines, as well as salts ofacidic groups, inter alia, carboxylic acids. The following arenon-limiting examples of anions that can form salts with protonatedbasic groups: chloride, bromide, iodide, sulfate, bisulfate, carbonate,bicarbonate, phosphate, formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate,pyruvate, lactate, oxalate, malonate, maleate, succinate, tartrate,fumarate, citrate, and the like. The following are non-limiting examplesof cations that can form salts of acidic groups: ammonium, sodium,lithium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, bismuth, lysine, and the like.

The analogs (compounds) of the present disclosure are arranged intoseveral categories to assist the formulator in applying a rationalsynthetic strategy for the preparation of analogs which are notexpressly exampled herein. The arrangement into categories does notimply increased or decreased efficacy for any of the compositions ofmatter described herein.

C. Pharmaceutical Compositions

In one aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositionscomprising the disclosed compounds. That is, a pharmaceuticalcomposition can be provided comprising a therapeutically effectiveamount of at least one disclosed compound or at least one product of adisclosed method and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.

In certain aspects, the disclosed pharmaceutical compositions comprisethe disclosed compounds (including pharmaceutically acceptable salt(s)thereof) as an active ingredient, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier,and, optionally, other therapeutic ingredients or adjuvants. The instantcompositions include those suitable for oral, rectal, topical, andparenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, and intravenous)administration, although the most suitable route in any given case willdepend on the particular host, and nature and severity of the conditionsfor which the active ingredient is being administered. Thepharmaceutical compositions can be conveniently presented in unit dosageform and prepared by any of the methods well known in the art ofpharmacy.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable salts” refers tosalts prepared from pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic bases oracids. When the compound of the present invention is acidic, itscorresponding salt can be conveniently prepared from pharmaceuticallyacceptable non-toxic bases, including inorganic bases and organic bases.Salts derived from such inorganic bases include aluminum, ammonium,calcium, copper (-ic and -ous), ferric, ferrous, lithium, magnesium,manganese (-ic and -ous), potassium, sodium, zinc and the like salts.Particularly preferred are the ammonium, calcium, magnesium, potassiumand sodium salts. Salts derived from pharmaceutically acceptable organicnon-toxic bases include salts of primary, secondary, and tertiaryamines, as well as cyclic amines and substituted amines such asnaturally occurring and synthesized substituted amines. Otherpharmaceutically acceptable organic non-toxic bases from which salts canbe formed include ion exchange resins such as, for example, arginine,betaine, caffeine, choline, N,N′-dibenzylethylenediamine, diethylamine,2-diethylaminoethanol, 2-dimethylaminoethanol, ethanolamine,ethylenediamine, N-ethylmorpholine, N-ethylpiperidine, glucamine,glucosamine, histidine, hydrabamine, isopropylamine, lysine,methylglucamine, morpholine, piperazine, piperidine, polyamine resins,procaine, purines, theobromine, triethylamine, trimethylamine,tripropylamine, tromethamine and the like.

As used herein, the term “pharmaceutically acceptable non-toxic acids”includes inorganic acids, organic acids, and salts prepared therefrom,for example, acetic, benzenesulfonic, benzoic, camphorsulfonic, citric,ethanesulfonic, fumaric, gluconic, glutamic, hydrobromic, hydrochloric,isethionic, lactic, maleic, malic, mandelic, methanesulfonic, mucic,nitric, pamoic, pantothenic, phosphoric, succinic, sulfuric, tartaric,p-toluenesulfonic acid and the like. Preferred are citric, hydrobromic,hydrochloric, maleic, phosphoric, sulfuric, and tartaric acids.

In practice, the compounds of the invention, or pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof, of this invention can be combined as theactive ingredient in intimate admixture with a pharmaceutical carrieraccording to conventional pharmaceutical compounding techniques. Thecarrier can take a wide variety of forms depending on the form ofpreparation desired for administration, e.g., oral or parenteral(including intravenous). Thus, the pharmaceutical compositions of thepresent invention can be presented as discrete units suitable for oraladministration such as capsules, cachets or tablets each containing apredetermined amount of the active ingredient. Further, the compositionscan be presented as a powder, as granules, as a solution, as asuspension in an aqueous liquid, as a non-aqueous liquid, as anoil-in-water emulsion or as a water-in-oil liquid emulsion. In additionto the common dosage forms set out above, the compounds of theinvention, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salt(s) thereof, can alsobe administered by controlled release means and/or delivery devices. Thecompositions can be prepared by any of the methods of pharmacy. Ingeneral, such methods include a step of bringing into association theactive ingredient with the carrier that constitutes one or morenecessary ingredients. In general, the compositions are prepared byuniformly and intimately admixing the active ingredient with liquidcarriers or finely divided solid carriers or both. The product can thenbe conveniently shaped into the desired presentation.

Thus, the pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can include apharmaceutically acceptable carrier and a compound or a pharmaceuticallyacceptable salt of the compounds of the invention. The compounds of theinvention, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, can also beincluded in pharmaceutical compositions in combination with one or moreother therapeutically active compounds. The pharmaceutical carrieremployed can be, for example, a solid, liquid, or gas. Examples of solidcarriers include lactose, terra alba, sucrose, talc, gelatin, agar,pectin, acacia, magnesium stearate, and stearic acid. Examples of liquidcarriers are sugar syrup, peanut oil, olive oil, and water. Examples ofgaseous carriers include carbon dioxide and nitrogen.

In preparing the compositions for oral dosage form, any convenientpharmaceutical media can be employed. For example, water, glycols, oils,alcohols, flavoring agents, preservatives, coloring agents and the likecan be used to form oral liquid preparations such as suspensions,elixirs and solutions; while carriers such as starches, sugars,microcrystalline cellulose, diluents, granulating agents, lubricants,binders, disintegrating agents, and the like can be used to form oralsolid preparations such as powders, capsules and tablets. Because oftheir ease of administration, tablets and capsules are the preferredoral dosage units whereby solid pharmaceutical carriers are employed.Optionally, tablets can be coated by standard aqueous or nonaqueoustechniques.

A tablet containing the composition of this invention can be prepared bycompression or molding, optionally with one or more accessoryingredients or adjuvants. Compressed tablets can be prepared bycompressing, in a suitable machine, the active ingredient in afree-flowing form such as powder or granules, optionally mixed with abinder, lubricant, inert diluent, surface active or dispersing agent.Molded tablets can be made by molding in a suitable machine, a mixtureof the powdered compound moistened with an inert liquid diluent.

The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can comprise acompound of the invention (or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof)as an active ingredient, a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, andoptionally one or more additional therapeutic agents or adjuvants. Theinstant compositions include compositions suitable for oral, rectal,topical, and parenteral (including subcutaneous, intramuscular, andintravenous) administration, although the most suitable route in anygiven case will depend on the particular host, and nature and severityof the conditions for which the active ingredient is being administered.The pharmaceutical compositions can be conveniently presented in unitdosage form and prepared by any of the methods well known in the art ofpharmacy.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention suitable forparenteral administration can be prepared as solutions or suspensions ofthe active compounds in water. A suitable surfactant can be includedsuch as, for example, hydroxypropylcellulose. Dispersions can also beprepared in glycerol, liquid polyethylene glycols, and mixtures thereofin oils. Further, a preservative can be included to prevent thedetrimental growth of microorganisms.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention suitable forinjectable use include sterile aqueous solutions or dispersions.Furthermore, the compositions can be in the form of sterile powders forthe extemporaneous preparation of such sterile injectable solutions ordispersions. In all cases, the final injectable form must be sterile andmust be effectively fluid for easy syringability. The pharmaceuticalcompositions must be stable under the conditions of manufacture andstorage; thus, preferably should be preserved against the contaminatingaction of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. The carrier can bea solvent or dispersion medium containing, for example, water, ethanol,polyol (e.g., glycerol, propylene glycol and liquid polyethyleneglycol), vegetable oils, and suitable mixtures thereof.

Pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be in a formsuitable for topical use such as, for example, an aerosol, cream,ointment, lotion, dusting powder, mouth washes, gargles, and the like.Further, the compositions can be in a form suitable for use intransdermal devices. These formulations can be prepared, utilizing acompound of the invention, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof,via conventional processing methods. As an example, a cream or ointmentis prepared by mixing hydrophilic material and water, together withabout 5 wt % to about 10 wt % of the compound, to produce a cream orointment having a desired consistency.

Pharmaceutical compositions of this invention can be in a form suitablefor rectal administration wherein the carrier is a solid. It ispreferable that the mixture forms unit dose suppositories. Suitablecarriers include cocoa butter and other materials commonly used in theart. The suppositories can be conveniently formed by first admixing thecomposition with the softened or melted carriers) followed by chillingand shaping in moulds.

In addition to the aforementioned carrier ingredients, thepharmaceutical formulations described above can include, as appropriate,one or more additional carrier ingredients such as diluents, buffers,flavoring agents, binders, surface-active agents, thickeners,lubricants, preservatives (including anti-oxidants) and the like.Furthermore, other adjuvants can be included to render the formulationisotonic with the blood of the intended recipient. Compositionscontaining a compound of the invention, and/or pharmaceuticallyacceptable salts thereof, can also be prepared in powder or liquidconcentrate form.

In the treatment conditions which require BMP inhibition, an appropriatedosage level will generally be about 0.01 to 500 mg per kg patient bodyweight per day and can be administered in single or multiple doses.Preferably, the dosage level will be about 0.1 to about 250 mg/kg perday; more preferably 0.5 to 100 mg/kg per day. A suitable dosage levelcan be about 0.01 to 250 mg/kg per day, about 0.05 to 100 mg/kg per day,or about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg per day. Within this range the dosage can be0.05 to 0.5, 0.5 to 5.0 or 5.0 to 50 mg/kg per day. For oraladministration, the compositions are preferably provided in the from oftablets containing 1.0 to 1000 miligrams of the active ingredient,particularly 1.0, 5.0, 10, 15, 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300,400, 500, 600, 750, 800, 900 and 1000 milligrams of the activeingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage of the patientto be treated. The compound can be administered on a regimen of 1 to 4times per day, preferably once or twice per day. This dosing regimen canbe adjusted to provide the optimal therapeutic response.

It is understood, however, that the specific dose level for anyparticular patient will depend upon a variety of factors. Such factorsinclude the age, body weight, general health, sex, and diet of thepatient. Other factors include the time and route of administration,rate of excretion, drug combination, and the type and severity of theparticular disease undergoing therapy.

The disclosed pharmaceutical compositions can further comprise othertherapeutically active compounds, which are usually applied in thetreatment of the above mentioned pathological conditions.

It is understood that the disclosed compositions can be prepared fromthe disclosed compounds. It is also understood that the disclosedcompositions can be employed in the disclosed methods of using.

Further disclosed herein are pharmaceutical compositions comprising oneor more of the disclosed BMP inhibitors and a pharmaceuticallyacceptable carrier. Accordingly, the pharmaceutical compositions of thepresent invention include those that contain one or more other activeingredients, in addition to a compound of the present invention.

The above combinations include combinations of a disclosed compound notonly with one other active compound, but also with two or more otheractive compounds. Likewise, disclosed compounds may be used incombination with other drugs that are used in the prevention, treatment,control, amelioration, or reduction of risk of the diseases orconditions for which disclosed compounds are useful. Such other drugsmay be administered, by a route and in an amount commonly used therefor,contemporaneously or sequentially with a compound of the presentinvention. When a compound of the present invention is usedcontemporaneously with one or more other drugs, a pharmaceuticalcomposition containing such other drugs in addition to the compound ofthe present invention is preferred. Accordingly, the pharmaceuticalcompositions of the present invention include those that also containone or more other active ingredients, in addition to a compound of thepresent invention.

The weight ratio of the compound of the present invention to the secondactive ingredient can be varied and will depend upon the effective doseof each ingredient. Generally, an effective dose of each will be used.Thus, for example, when a compound of the present invention is combinedwith another agent, the weight ratio of the compound of the presentinvention to the other agent will generally range from about 1000:1 toabout 1:1000, preferably about 200:1 to about 1:200. Combinations of acompound of the present invention and other active ingredients willgenerally also be within the aforementioned range, but in each case, aneffective dose of each active ingredient should be used.

In such combinations the compound of the present invention and otheractive agents may be administered separately or in conjunction. Inaddition, the administration of one element can be prior to, concurrentto, or subsequent to the administration of other agent(s). Accordingly,the subject compounds can be used alone or in combination with otheragents which are known to be beneficial in the subject indications orother drugs that affect receptors or enzymes that either increase theefficacy, safety, convenience, or reduce unwanted side effects ortoxicity of the disclosed compounds. The subject compound and the otheragent may be coadministered, either in concomitant therapy or in a fixedcombination.

In one aspect, the compound can be employed in combination with a secondcompound with the known side effect of modulating BMP signalingpathways.

In the treatment of conditions which require inhibition of BMP, anappropriate dosage level will generally be about 0.01 to 500 mg per kgpatient body weight per day which can be administered in single ormultiple doses. Preferably, the dosage level will be about 0.1 to about250 mg/kg per day; more preferably about 0.5 to about 100 mg/kg per day.A suitable dosage level may be about 0.01 to 250 mg/kg per day, about0.05 to 100 mg/kg per day, or about 0.1 to 50 mg/kg per day. Within thisrange the dosage may be 0.05 to 0.5, 0.5 to 5 or 5 to 50 mg/kg per day.For oral administration, the compositions are preferably provided in theform of tablets containing 1.0 to 1000 milligrams of the activeingredient, particularly 1.0, 5.0, 10, 15. 20, 25, 50, 75, 100, 150,200, 250, 300, 400, 500, 600, 750, 800, 900, and 1000 milligrams of theactive ingredient for the symptomatic adjustment of the dosage to thepatient to be treated. The compounds may be administered on a regimen of1 to 4 times per day, preferably once or twice per day. This dosageregimen may be adjusted to provide the optimal therapeutic response. Itwill be understood, however, that the specific dose level and frequencyof dosage for any particular patient may be varied and will depend upona variety of factors including the activity of the specific compoundemployed, the metabolic stability and length of action of that compound,the age, body weight, general health, sex, diet, mode and time ofadministration, rate of excretion, drug combination, the severity of theparticular condition, and the host undergoing therapy.

In one aspect, the invention relates to pharmaceutical compositionscomprising a compound having a structure represented by the followingformula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S.    D. Methods of Using the Compounds and Compositions

1. Treatment Methods

BMPs and TGF-β signaling pathways are essential to normal organogenesisand pattern formation, as well as the normal and pathological remodelingof mature tissues. Defects in the BMP signaling pathway are implicatedin a number of congenital and acquired disease processes, includingHereditary Hemorrhagic Telangectasia syndrome, Primary PulmonaryHypertension, Juvenile Familial Polyposis, as well as sporadic renalcell and prostate carcinomas. It has been suggested that in certaindisease states associated with defective signaling components,attenuated BMP signaling might be a cause, while our findings havesuggested that in some contexts excess BMP signaling might be pathogenic(Waite et al. Nat. Rev. Genet. 4:763-773, 2005; Yu et. J. Biol. Chem.280:24443-24450, 2003). The ability to modulate BMP signalingexperimentally would provide a means for investigating therapy, and fordetermining the root causes of these conditions.

A. Treatment of Anemia, including Iron Deficiency and Anemia of ChronicDisease

For a review, see Weiss et al. N. Engl. J. Med. 352:1011-1023, 2005.Anemia of inflammation (also called anemia of chronic disease) can beseen in patients with chronic infections, autoimmune diseases (such assystemic lupus erythematosis and rheumatoid arthritis, and Castleman'sdisease), inflammatory bowel disease, cancers (including multiplemyeloma), and renal failure. Anemia of inflammation is often caused bymaladaptive expression of the peptide hormone hepcidin. Hepcidin causesdegradation of ferroportin, a critical protein that enables transport ofiron from intracellular stores in macrophages and from intestinalepithelial cells. Many patients with renal failure have a combination oferythropoietin deficiency and excess hepcidin expression. BMP signalinginduces expression of hepcidin and inhibiting hepcidin expression withBMP antagonists increases iron levels. Compounds as described herein canbe used to treat anemia due to chronic disease or inflammation andassociated hyperhepcidinemic states.

The inflammatory cytokine IL-6 is thought to be the principal cause ofelevated hepcidin expression in inflammatory states, based upon theelevation of IL-6 in anemia of inflammation of diverse etiologies, theeffects of chronic IL-6 administration in vivo, and the protectionagainst anemia in rodents deficient in IL-6 (Weiss et al. N. Engl. J.Med. 352:1011-1023, 2005). It has been shown that stimulating hepatomacell lines with IL-6 induces hepcidin expression, while treatment with aBMP antagonist abrogates IL-6-induced hepcidin expression (Yu et al.Nat. Chem. Biol. 4:33-41, 2008). Moreover, we have found that BMPantagonists can inhibit hepcidin expression induced by injection ofpathogenic bacteria in vivo (see Example 8). It has also been shown thatsystemic iron administration in mice and zebrafish rapidly activatesBMP-responsive-SMADs and hepcidin expression in the liver, and that BMPantagonism effectively blocks these responses (Yu et al. Nat. Chem.Biol. 4:33-41, 2008). The functional importance of BMP signaling in ironregulation is supported by our finding that BMP antagonists can inhibithepcidin expression and raise serum iron levels in vivo (see Example 7).Taken together these data suggest that iron- and inflammation-mediatedregulation of hepcidin and circulating iron levels require BMPsignaling. Compounds as described herein may be used to alter ironavailability in diverse circumstances for therapeutic benefit.

Compounds as described herein may be used in anemic states to (i)augment the efficacy of dietary iron or oral iron supplementation (whichis safer than intravenous administration of iron) to increase serum ironconcentrations; (ii) augment build up of hemoglobin in the blood inanticipation of surgery or to enable blood donation for self inanticipation of surgery; and (iii) enhance the efficacy oferythropoietin and its relatives, thereby enabling lower doses oferythropoietin to be administered for anemia while minimizing knowntoxicities and side effects of erythropoietin (i.e., hypertension,cardiovascular events, and tumor growth).

B. Treatment of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva (FOP)

FOP is caused by the presence of a constitutively-active mutant form ofALK2 in affected individuals (Shore et al. Nat. Genet. 38:525-527,2006). A specific inhibitor of BMP signaling such as a compound asdescribed herein can be used to prevent excessive bone formation inresponse to trauma, musculoskeletal stress or inflammation. Such acompound could also be used to aid in regression of pathologic bone. TheBMP inhibitor could be administered systemically or locally toconcentrate or limit effects to areas of trauma or inflammation.

A BMP inhibitor as described herein may be used as chronic therapy tosuppress spontaneous bone formation in individuals who are highlysusceptible. Transient therapy may be used to prevent abnormal boneformation in FOP individuals who develop osteomas or pathologic bonemost frequently in association with trauma by administration before,during, or even after the traumatic incident. Transient therapy with BMPinhibitors as described herein could be used before, during orimmediately after necessary or emergent medical or surgical procedures(and even important immunizations and tooth extractions) in individualswith FOP, to prevent pathologic calcification. Combination therapy withother bone inhibiting agents, immune modulatory or anti-inflammatorydrugs (such as NSA/Ds, steroids, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide,azathioprine, methotrexate, rituxumab, etanercept, or similar drugs) mayincrease the effectiveness of BMP antagonists in inhibiting heterotopicbone formation in this disorder.

A mouse model of FOP has been developed in which expression of aconstitutively-active mutant form of ALK2 is induced by injecting thepopliteal fossa of a genetically-modified mouse with an adenovirusdirecting expression of Cre recombinase. This model reproduces theectopic calcification and disability seen in FOP patients. Twice dailyadministration of compound 13 (3 mg/kg ip) prevented the ectopiccalcification and disability (see Example 10).

C. Treatment of Cancers

Excessive BMP signaling, which could arise due to over-expression ofBMPs, or, paradoxically, as a result of loss of BMP type II receptorexpression, may contribute to the oncogenesis, growth or metastasis ofcertain solid tumors, including breast, prostate carcinomas, bone, lung,and renal cell carcinomas (Yu et al. J. Biol. Chem. 280:24443-24450,2008; Waite et al. Nat. Rev. Genet. 4:763-773, 2003; Alarmo et al.Genes, Chromosomes Cancer 45:411-419, 2006; Kim et al. Cancer Res.60:2840-2844, 2000; Kim et al. Clin. Cancer Res. 9:6046-6051, 2003; Kimet al. Oncogene 23:7651-7659, 2004). If increased BMP activityassociated with BMP over-expression or BMP type II receptor deficiencycontributes to the pathogenesis of disease, then inhibiting BMPsignaling activity using compounds as described herein at the level ofBMP type I receptors (downstream of both ligands and type II receptor)could be an effective means of normalizing BMP signaling activity andpotentially inhibiting tumor growth or metastasis.

Compounds as described herein can be used to slow or arrest the growthor metastasis of such tumor cells (as well as other tumor constituentcell types) for clinical benefit, either as adjunctive or primarychemotherapy. Also, BMP inhibitors as described herein may be used tointerfere with the bone metastatic properties of certain types ofcancers (e.g., adenocarcinoma, such as prostate and breast carcinomas).In addition, compounds as described herein can be used to inhibitosteoblastic activity in tumors that either form bone or arebone-derived, such as osteosarcomas (as adjunctive or primarychemotherapy). Further, compounds as described herein can be used toinhibit osteoclastic activity (also regulated by BMPs through the actionof its target gene RANKL), which is pathologically increased inconditions such as multiple myeloma and other bone-targeted tumors.Application of BMP inhibitors in these conditions may reduce thepresence of osteolytic lesions and bone fractures due to tumorinvolvement.

D. Immune Modulation Via BMP Antagonists

BMPs have been reported to attenuate the inflammatory or immune response(Choi et al. Nat. Immunol. 7:1057-1065, 2006; Kersten et al. BMCImmunol. 6:9, 2005), which can impair an individual's ability to fightinfections (i.e., viral, bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or tuberculosis).Inhibitors of BMP signaling as described herein may thus augment theinflammatory or immune response enabling individuals to clear infectionsmore rapidly.

Lymphocytes and other immune cells express BMP receptors on their cellsurfaces, and there is growing evidence that BMPs regulate thedevelopment and maturation of various humoral and cellular immunologiccompartments, and regulate humoral and cellular immune responses inmature organisms. The effects of BMP signals on immune cells are likelyto be context-specific, as is commonly known for the effects of numerouscytokines of immunologic importance, and thus whether they augment ordiminish the development or function of particular lymphocytepopulations must be empirically determined. BMP antagonism usingcompounds as described herein may be an effective strategy forintentionally biasing the development of cellular, innate, or humoralimmune compartments for therapy, or a strategy for the therapeuticdeviation of immune responses in mature immune systems. These strategiesmay target inborn disorders of cellular, innate, or humoral immunity, ortarget disorders in which immune responses are inappropriately weak(e.g., as an adjuvant to promote successful antigen sensitization whenimmunization is difficult or ineffective by other means), or targetdisorders in which immune responses are excessive or inappropriate(e.g., autoimmunity and autosensitization). BMP antagonists as describedherein may also be effective in some contexts for the intentionalinduction of immune tolerance (i.e., in allotransplantation orautoimmunity).

E. Treatment of Pathologic Bone Formation

Compounds as described herein can be used to ameliorate pathologic boneformation/bone fusion in inflammatory disorders, such as ankylosingspondylitis or other “seronegative” spondyloarthropathies, in whichautoimmunity and inflammation in such disorders appear to stimulate boneformation. One application of the compounds would be to prevent excessbone formation after joint surgery, particularly in patients withankylosing spondylitis or rheumatoid arthritis. Compounds as describedherein can also be used to prevent calcinosis (dystrophic soft-tissuecalcification) in diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus,scleroderma, or dermatomyositis.

Blunt traumatic injury to muscles can cause abnormal bone formationwithin muscle in certain individuals, resulting in a disorder calledmyositis ossificans traumatica (Cushner et al. Orthop. Rev.21:1319-1326, 1992.). Head trauma and burn injury can also induceheterotopic bone formation markedly impairing patient rehabilitation andrecovery. Treatment with a BMP inhibitor as described herein, optionallyin addition to anti-inflammatory medications usually prescribed for sucha condition (eg. non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such asindomethacin or ibuprofen) may help to prevent the formation ofpathologic bone in predisposed individuals, or to help lessen or regresslesions in individuals recently or remotely affected. Very rarely othermuscles have been described to develop ossification in the presence ofinjury or trauma, including heart muscle, and similar treatment with aBMP inhibitor as described herein could be helpful in thosecircumstances.

F. Treatment of Ectopic or Maladaptive Bone Formation

BMP signals and their transcriptional targets are implicated in intimaland medial vascular remodeling and calcification in Monckeberg'svascular calcification disease and in atheromatous vascular disease(Bostrom et al. J. Clin. Invest. 91:1800-1809, 1993; Tyson et al.Arterioscler. Thromb. Vasc. Biol. 23:489-494, 2003). BMPs andBMP-induced osteodifferentation are also implicated in cardiac valvularcalcification. Native cardiac valves can calcify particularly when theyare already abnormal. A classic example is bicuspid aortic valve—thesevalves typically become calcified leading to stenosis. Patients withcalcific aortic valve stenosis often require cardiac surgery for valvereplacement. Abnormal calcification can adversely affect the function ofprosthetic vascular grafts or cardiac valves. For example, prostheticheart valves become calcified leading to narrowing and often leakage.

Compounds as described herein can be used to inhibit vascular orvalvular calcific disease alone or in combination with atheromatousdisease, renal disease, renal osteodystrophy or parathyroid disease.

Compounds as described herein can be used to inhibit calcification ofprosthetic vascular or valvular materials by systemic or localadministration or direct incorporation into prosthesis materials orother implants (e.g., in admixture with a polymer that coats orconstitutes all or part of the implant or prosthesis).

In some instances, it is desired to delay fracture healing following abone fracture, or to purposely inhibit fracture healing in certainlocations to prevent impairment of function by maladaptive boneformation. For example, if a fracture occurs and for medical orpractical reasons surgery cannot be performed immediately, fracturehealing may be temporarily “suspended” by use of a BMP inhibitor asdescribed herein, until definitive surgery or manipulation can beperformed. This could prevent the need for subsequent intentionalre-fracture in order to ensure correct apposition of bone fragments, forexample. It is expected that upon stopping a BMP inhibitor normalfracture healing processes would ensue if the period of treatment isrelatively short. In other cases, any amount of novel bone growth mightimpair function, such as when fracture affects a joint directly. Inthese cases, global or local inhibition of BMP activity (by systemic orlocal delivery of a BMP antagonist as described herein via diffusionfrom a local implant or matrix) may be used to inhibit fracture healingor prevent fracture calluses at the critical areas.

G. Treatment of Skin Diseases

Expansion of cultured keratinocytes—In vitro, BMPs inhibit keratinocyteproliferation and promote differentiation (reviewed in Botchkarev et al.Differentiation 72:512-526, 2004). In patients in need of skin grafting(eg. after burns), skin grafts are made from cultured keratinocytes. Thekeratinocytes may be derived from other animals (xenografts), but theseare only temporary as they will be rejected by the immune system.Keratinocytes can be derived from the patient themselves and can begrown into sheets of cells in the laboratory (cultured epithelialautografts). The patient will not reject keratinocytes derived fromhis/her own body. Addition of BMP antagonists as described herein tokeratinocyte cultures can be used to facilitate keratinocyteproliferation enabling patients to receive grafts sooner.

Improved epithelialization—BMP6 is highly expressed in skin injury, andhigh levels of BMP6 are detected in chronic human wounds of differentetiologies (Kaiser et al. J. Invest. Dermatol. 111:1145-1152, 1998). Inmice overexpressing BMP6 in their skin, reepithelialization and healingskin wounds were significantly delayed (Kaiser et al. J. Invest.Dermatol. 111:1145-1152, 1998). Improved epithelialization can reducescar formation. Topical or systemic administration of BMP antagonists asdescribed herein can be used to augment epithelialization of skinwounds, for example, in the treatment of pressure ulcers (bed sores) ornon-healing or poorly-healing skin ulcers (e.g., in patients withperipheral vascular disease, diabetes mellitus, venous incompetence).Compounds would also be expected to decrease scar formation.

Promotion of hair growth—Growth of hair follicles on the scalp is cyclicwith three phases: anagen (the growth phase), catagen (the involutionalphase), and telogen (resting phase). Recent evidence suggests that BMPsignals delay the transition from telogen to anagen (Plikus et al.Nature 451:340-344, 2008). Inhibition of BMP signaling using compoundsas described herein can shorten the telogen phase and increase thenumber of follicles in the anagen phase. Compounds as described hereincan be used to treat circumstances wherein hair follicles areinsufficient or when hairs are being lost more frequently than they aregrown. These circumstances include androgenetic alopecia (male patternbalding), alopecia greata, and telogen effluvium.

Treatment of psoriasis—Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder whichsometimes occurs following skin trauma and the ensuing repair andinflammation (Koebner phenomenon). BMPs may participate in repair andinflammatory mechanisms that cause psoriasis, since over-expression ofBMP6 in the skin of mice leads to skin lesions similar to those seen inpatients with psoriasis (Blessing et al. J. Cell. Biol. 135:227-239,1996). Compounds as described herein may be administered topically orsystemically to treat established psoriasis or prevent its developmentafter skin injury.

Treatment of corneal scarring—BMP6 expression is associated withconjunctival scarring (Andreev et al. Exp. Eye Res. 83:1162-1170, 2006).Compounds as described herein can be used to prevent or treat cornealscarring and the resulting blindness.

H. Treatment of Systemic Hypertension

Infusion of BMP4 induces systemic hypertension in mice (Miriyala et al.Circulation 113:2818-2825, 2006). Vascular smooth muscle cells express avariety of BMP ligands. BMPs increase the expression of voltage gatedpotassium channels and thereby increase constriction of vascular smoothmuscle (Fantozzi et al. Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.291:L993-1004, 2006). Compounds as described herein that inhibit BMPsignaling can be used to reduce blood pressure. Sustained reduction ofblood pressure in patients with hypertension would be expected toprevent myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure, cerebrovascularaccidents, and renal failure. BMP inhibitors as described herein can beused to target the hypertension in specific vascular beds, such as inpulmonary hypertension via local delivery (e.g., via aerosol).

I. Treatment of Pulmonary Hypertension

BMP signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of pulmonary hypertension.For example, mice with decreased BMP4 levels are protected from thepulmonary hypertension and pulmonary vascular remodeling induced bybreathing low oxygen concentrations for prolonged periods (Frank et al.Circ. Res. 97:496-504, 2005). Moreover, mutations in the gene encodingthe type II BMP receptor (BMPRII) are frequently found in patients withsporadic and familial pulmonary arterial hypertension. It might beanticipated that decreased BMP signaling might cause pulmonaryhypertension. However, Yu and colleagues (Yu et al. J. Biol. Chem.280:24443-24450, 2008) reported that BMPRII deficiency paradoxicallyincreases BMP signaling by subsets of BMP ligands, and thus increasedBMP signaling using compounds as described herein may actuallycontribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension.

Compounds as described herein can used to prevent the development ofpulmonary arterial hypertension in patients at risk for the disease(e.g., patients with BMPRII mutations) or to treat patients withidiopathic or acquired pulmonary arterial hypertension. Decreasedpulmonary hypertension in individuals treated with the compoundsdescribed herein would be expected to decrease shortness of breath,right ventricular hypertrophy, and right ventricular failure.

J. Treatment of Ventricular Hypertrophy

BMP-10 levels are increased in the hypertrophied ventricles of rats withhypertension, and this BMP ligand induces hypertrophy in culturedneonatal rat ventricular myocytes (Nakano et al. Am. J. Physiol. Heart.Circ. Physiol. 293:H3396-3403, 2007) Inhibition of BMP-10 signaling withcompounds as described herein can to prevent/treat ventricularhypertrophy. Ventricular hypertrophy can lead to congestive heartfailure due to diastolic dysfunction. Compounds described herein wouldbe expected to prevent/treat congestive heart failure.

K. Treatment of Neurologic Disorders

Treatment of spinal cord injury and neuropathy—BMPs are potentinhibitors of axonal regeneration in the adult spinal cord after spinalcord injury (Matsuura et al. J. Neurochem. 2008). Expression of BMPs isreported to be elevated in oligodendrocytes and astrocytes around theinjury site following spinal cord contusion. Intrathecal administrationof noggin, a BMP inhibitor, led to enhanced locomotor activity andsignificant regrowth of the corticospinal tract after spinal cordcontusion.

RGMa inhibits axonal growth and recovery after spinal cord injury, aswell as synapse re-formation, effects which are blocked by an antibodydirected against RGMa (Hata et al. J. Cell. Biol. 173:47-58, 2006; Kyotoet al. Brain Res. 1186:74-86, 2007). RGMa enhances BMP signaling (Babittet al. J. Biol. Chem. 280:29820-29827, 2005) suggesting that BMPsignaling may be responsible for preventing axonal growth and recovery.

Based on these considerations, compounds as described herein would beexpected to increase axonal growth and recovery after spinal cordinjury. Compounds as described herein would be expected to prevent/treatneuropathies associated with a wide spectrum of disorders includingdiabetes mellitus. Compounds as described herein would be expected totreat both the pain and motor dysfunction associated with neuropathies.

Treatment of neurologic disorders associated with central nervous systeminflammation—BMP4 and 5 have been detected in multiple sclerosis andCreutzfeldt-Jakob disease lesions (Deininger et al. Acta Neuropathol.90:76-79, 1995). BMPs have also been detected in mice with experimentalautoimmune encephalomyelitis, an animal model of multiple sclerosis (Araet al. J. Neurosci. Res. 86:125-135, 2008). Compounds as describedherein may be used to prevent or treat multiple sclerosis as well asother neurologic disorders associated with central nervous systeminflammation, or maladaptive injury repair processes mediated by BMPsignals.

Treatment of dementias—Inhibitors of BMP signaling can promoteneurogenesis in mouse neural precursor cells (Koike et al. J. Biol.Chem. 282:15843-15850, 2007). Compounds as described herein can be usedto augment neurogenesis in a variety of neurologic disorders associatedwith accelerated loss of neurons including cerebrovascular accidents andAlzheimer's Disease, as well as other dementias.

Altering memory and learning—BMP signaling has an important role in thedevelopment and maintenance of neurons involved in memory and cognitivebehavior. For example, mice deficient in the BMP antagonist, chordin,have enhanced spatial learning but less exploratory activity in a novelenvironment (Sun et al. J. Neurosci. 27:7740-7750, 2007). Compounds asdescribed herein can be used to alter or prevent memory or learning, forexample, inducing amnesia for anesthesia or in other situations likelyto cause distress, or to prevent Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

L. Treatment of Atherosclerosis

Abundant evidence suggests that BMP ligands are pro-inflammatory andpro-atherogenic in the blood vessel wall (Chang et al. Circulation116:1258-1266, 2007). Knocking-down expression of BMP4 decreasedinflammatory signals, whereas knocking-down BMP antagonists(egfollistatin or noggin) increased inflammatory signals. Compounds asdescribed herein can be used to reduce vascular inflammation associatedwith atherosclerosis, automimmune disease, and other vasculitides. Bydecreasing atherosclerosis, it would be anticipated that compounds asdescribed herein would decrease acute coronary syndromes (anginapectoris and heart attack), transient ischemic attacks, stroke,peripheral vascular disease, and other vascular ischemic events.Moreover, in so far as atherosclerosis contributes to the pathogenesisof aneurysm formation, compounds as described herein can be used to slowthe progression of aneurysm formation decreasing the frequency ofaneurismal structure and the requirement for vascular surgery.

As BMPs and many of the BMP-induced gene products that affect matrixremodeling are overexpressed in early atherosclerotic lesions, BMPsignals may promote plaque formation and progression (Bostrom et al. JClin Invest. 91: 1800-1809. 1993; Dhore et al. Arterioscler Thromb VascBiol. 21: 1998-2003. 2001). BMP signaling activity in the atheromatousplaque may thus represent a form of maladaptive injury-repair, or maycontribute to inflammation. Over time, BMP signals may also induceresident or nascent vascular cell populations to differentiate intoosteoblast-like cells, leading to intimal and medial calcification ofvessels (Hruska et al. Circ Res. 97: 105-112. 2005). Calcific vasculardisease, or arteriosclerosis, is associated with decreased vasculardistensibility, and increased risk of cardiovascular events andmortality, and is particularly problematic when associated withunderlying atherosclerotic disease (Bostrom et al. Crit Rev EukaryotGene Expr. 10: 151-158. 2000). Both atherosclerotic and calcific lesionsmay be amenable to regression, however, if signals which contribute totheir progression can be intercepted (Sano et al. Circulation. 103:2955-2960. 2001). In certain aspects, compound 13 or another inhibitorof BMP type I receptor activity may be used to limit the progression ofatheromatous plaques and vascular calcification in vivo.

M. Propagation, Engraftment and Differentiation of Progenitor Cellsincluding Embryonic and Adult Stem Cells In Vitro and In Vivo

BMP signals are crucial for regulating the differentiation andregeneration of precursor and stem cell populations, in some contextsand tissues preventing (while in other contexts directing)differentiation towards a lineage. Compounds as described herein can beused to (i) maintain a pluripotential state in stem cell or multipotentcell populations in vivo or in vitro; (ii) expand stem cell ormultipotent cell populations in vivo or in vitro; (iii) directdifferentiation of stem cell or multipotent cell populations in vivo orin vitro; (iv) manipulate or direct the differentiation of stem cell ormultipotent cell populations in vivo or in vitro, either alone or incombination or in sequence with other treatments; and (v) modulate thede-differentiation of differentiated cell populations into multipotentor progenitor populations.

Numerous stem cell and precursor lineages require BMP signals in orderto determine whether they will expand, differentiate towards specifictissue lineages, home in and integrate with particular tissue types, orundergo programmed cell death. Frequently BMP signals interact withsignals provided by growth factors (bFGF, PDGF, VEGF, HBEGF, PIGF, andothers), Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), notch, and Wnt signaling pathways toeffect these changes (Okita et al. Curr. Stem Cell Res. Ther. 1:103-111,2006). Compounds as described herein can be used to direct thedifferentiation of stem cells (e.g., embryonic stem cells) or tissueprogenitor cells towards specific lineages for therapeutic application(Park et al. Development 131:2749-2762, 2004; Pashmforoush et al. Cell117:373-386, 2004). Alternatively for certain cell populations, BMPinhibitors as described herein may be effective in preventingdifferentiation and promoting expansion, in order to produce sufficientnumbers of cells to be effective for a clinical application. The exactcombination of BMP antagonist and growth factor or signaling moleculemay be highly specific to each cell and tissue type.

For example, certain embryonic stem cell lines require co-culture withleukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) to inhibit differentiation and maintainthe pluripotency of certain cultured embryonic stem cell lines (Okita etal. Curr. Stem Cell Res. Ther. 1:103-111, 2006). Use of a BMP inhibitoras described herein may be used to maintain pluripotency in the absenceof LIF. Other ES cell lines require coculture with a specific feedercell layer in order to maintain pluripotency. Use of a BMP inhibitor asdescribed herein, alone or in combination with other agents, may beeffective in maintaining pluripotency when concerns of contaminationwith a feeder cell layer, or its DNA or protein components wouldcomplicate or prevent use of cells for human therapy.

In another example, in some circumstances antagonizing BMP signals witha protein such as noggin shortly before cessation of LIF in culture isable to induce differentiation into a cardiomyocyte lineage (Yuasa etal. Nat. Biotechnol. 23:607-611, 2005). Use of a pharmacologic BMPantagonist as described herein may achieve similar if not more potenteffects. Such differentiated cells could be introduced into diseasedmyocardium therapeutically. Alternatively, such treatment may actuallybe more effective on engrafted precursor cells which have already homedin to diseased myocardium. Systemic therapy with a protein antagonist ofBMP such as noggin would be prohibitively expensive and entailcomplicated dosing. Delivery of a BMP antagonist as described herein,systemically or locally, could bias the differentiation of suchprecursor cells into functioning cardiomyocytes in situ.

N. Application of Compounds with Varying Degrees of Selectivity:Compounds which Inhibit BMP Signaling Via Particular BMP Type IReceptors, or Compounds which also Affect Signaling Via TGF-β, Activin,AMP Kinase, or VEGF Receptors

ALK-specific antagonists—Dorsomorphin inhibits the activity of the BMPtype I receptors, ALK2, ALK3, and ALK6. Dorsomorphin inhibits ALK2 andALK3 to a greater extent than it does ALK6 (Yu et al. Nat. Chem. Biol.4:33-41, 2008). Several of the compounds described herein will haverelative greater selectivity for particular BMP type I receptors. Thepathogenesis of certain diseases might be attributed to thedysfunctional signaling of one particular receptor. For example,fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is a disease caused by aberrant(constitutively active) ALK2 function (Yu et al. Nat. Chem. Biol.4:33-41, 2008). In such instances, compounds as described herein whichspecifically antagonize the function a subset of the BMP type Ireceptors may have the advantage of reduced toxicity or side effects, orgreater effectiveness, or both.

Some compounds as described herein may have a high degree of selectivityfor BMP vs. TGF-β, Activin, AMP kinase, and VEGF receptor signaling.Other compounds may be less specific and may target other pathways inaddition to BMP signaling. In the treatment of tumors, for example,agents which inhibit BMP signaling as well as one or more of the abovepathways can have beneficial effects (e.g. decrease tumor size), whenmolecular phenotyping of specific patients' tumors reveals dysregulationof multiple pathways.

O. Applications of Compounds in Species other than Human

Compounds as described herein can be used to treat subjects (e.g.,humans, domestic pets, livestock, or other animals) by use of dosagesand administration regimens that are determined to be appropriate bythose of skill in the art, and these parameters may vary depending on,for example, the type and extent of the disorder treated, the overallhealth status of the subject, the therapeutic index of the compound, andthe route of administration. Standard clinical trials can be used tooptimize the dose and dosing frequency for any particular pharmaceuticalcomposition of the invention. Exemplary routes of administration thatcan be used include oral, parenteral, intravenous, intra-arterial,subcutaneous, intramuscular, topical, intracranial, intraorbital,ophthalmic, intraventricular, intracapsular, intraspinal,intracisternal, intraperitoneal, intranasal, aerosol, or administrationby suppository. Methods for making formulations that can be used in theinvention are well known in the art and can be found, for example, inRemington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy (20th edition, Ed., A.R. Gennaro), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2000.

P. Inhibition of BMP Signaling in Insects

Some of the compounds as described herein may have activity against, andperhaps even selectivity for the BMP receptors of arthropods versusthose of chordates Inhibiting BMP signaling in arthropod larvae or eggsis likely to cause severe developmental abnormalities and perhapscompromise their ability to reproduce, e.g., via the same dorsalizationthat is observed in zebrafish and drosophila when this pathway isinhibited. If BMP antagonists as described herein have very strongselectivity for arthropod BMP receptors versus those of humans, they maybe used as insecticides or pest control agents that are demonstrablyless toxic or more environmentally sound than current strategies.

Q. Additional Embodiments of the Present Invention

As stated above, the compounds of the present invention can be usedvarious other methods of treatment. For example, the compounds of thepresent invention can be used for methods to reduce myocardial ischemicinjury (Pachori A K. Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 2010,48:1255-65); methods for treating retinopathy of prematurity, diabeticretinopathy, and wet macular degeneration (Zhu D, Deng X, Xu J, Hinton DR. Aging 2009; 1:740-745; Zhu D, Wu J, Spee C, Ryan S J, Hinton Dr,Journal of Biological Chemistry 2009; 284:9529-9539); methods fortreating aortic valve calcification (both native and prosthetic) (AnkenyR F, Thouranin V H, Weiss D, Vega J D, Taylor W R, Nerem R M, Jo H. PLoSONE 2011; 6:e20969); methods for treat vascular calcification (Shao J-S,et al. Ann N.Y. Acad. Sciences 2007, 1117:40-50; Mohler E R, et al.Circulation 2001, 103:1522-1528); methods for treating diabeticnephropathy and renal fibrosis (Kishi S et al. Journal of BiologicalChemistry 2011; 286:32162-69; Patel S R and Dressler G R. Trends inMolecular Medicine 2005:11:512); methods for treating hereditary spasticparaplegias (Tsang H T H et al, Human Molecular Genetics2009:18:3805-3821; Blackstone C, O'Kane C J, Reid E. Nature Neuroscience2011; 12:31); methods for treating dystrophic phenotype in DuchenneMuscular Dystrophy (Shi S, et al. Neurobiology of Disease 2011,41:353-360; Shi S, et al. Cell Mol Life Sci. 2013, 70:407-23); methodsfor treating inflammatory bowel disease (Wang, L, Trebicka, E, Fu, Y,Ellenbogen, S, Hong, C C, Babitt, J L, Lin, H Y, Cherayil, B J. The bonemorphogenetic protein-hepcidin axis as a therapeutic target ininflammatory bowel disease. Inflammatory Bowel Diseases 2012;18:112-119. PMID:21351217); method for treating childhood leukemia(Crispino J D and Le Beau M M. Cancer Cell 2012; 22:567; Gruber T A, etal. Cancer Cell 2012; 22:683-697); methods for treating cancermetastasis by targeting lymphatics and primary tumore growth (FarnsworthR H, et al. Cancer Res 2011; 71:6547-57); and methods for promotingliver regeneration and healing following acute injury, includinghepatotoxin exposure, such as acetaminophen overdose (Do N, et al. Am JPhysiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2012; 303:G1220-7).

2. Co-Administration Methods

The disclosed compounds may be used as single agents or in combinationwith one or more other drugs in the treatment, prevention, control,amelioration or reduction of risk of the aforementioned diseases,disorders and conditions for which compounds of formula I or the otherdrugs have utility, where the combination of drugs together are safer ormore effective than either drug alone. The other drug(s) may beadministered by a route and in an amount commonly used therefore,contemporaneously or sequentially with a disclosed compound. When adisclosed compound is used contemporaneously with one or more otherdrugs, a pharmaceutical composition in unit dosage form containing suchdrugs and the compound is preferred. However, the combination therapycan also be administered on overlapping schedules. It is also envisionedthat the combination of one or more active ingredients and a disclosedcompound can be more efficacious than either as a single agent.

In certain instances BMP antagonists as described herein may be used incombination with other current or future drug therapies, because theeffects of inhibiting BMP alone may be less optimal by itself, and/ormay be synergistic or more highly effective in combination withtherapies acting on distinct pathways which interact functionally withBMP signaling, or on the BMP pathway itself Some examples of combinationtherapies could include the following.

Coadministration of erythropoietin (Epogen) and BMP antagonists asdescribed herein may be especially effective for certain types of anemiaof inflammation, as described above, particularly in diseases such asend-stage renal disease in which chronic inflammation and erythropoietininsufficiency both act to promote anemia.

Tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors, such as SU-5416, and BMPantagonists as described herein may have synergistic effects atinhibiting angiogenesis, particularly for anti-angiogenic therapyagainst tumors. BMP signals (BMP-4) are thought to be critical for thecommitment of stem or precursor cells to a hematopoietic/endothelialcommon progenitor, and may promote the proliferation, survival, andmigration of mature endothelial cells necessary for angiogenesis (Parket al. Development 131:2749-2762, 2004). Thus antagonism of BMP signalsusing compounds as described herein may provide additional inhibition ofangiogenesis at the level of endothelial precursors and cells.Similarly, co-treatment with BMP antagonists as described herein andother tyrosine kinase receptor inhibitors such as imatinib (Gleevec)could be used to inhibit vascular remodeling and angiogenesis of certaintumors.

The combination of a sonic hedgehog agonist and a BMP antagonist asdescribed herein may be particularly useful for promoting hair growth,as SHH activity is known to stimulate the transition of follicles out oftelogen (resting) phase (Paladini et al. J. Invest. Dermatol.125:638-646, 2005), while inhibiting the BMP pathway shortens thetelogen phase (Plikus et al. Nature 451:340-344, 2008). The use of bothwould be expected to cause relatively increased time in the anagen orgrowth phase.

Combined use of Notch modulators (e.g., gamma-secretase inhibitors) andBMP antagonists as described herein may be more effective than eitheragent alone in applications designed to inhibit vascular remodeling orbone differentiation, because increasing evidence suggests both pathwaysfunction cooperatively to effect cell differentiation, and vascular cellmigration (Kluppel et al. Bioessays 27:115-118, 2005). These therapiesmay be synergistic in the treatment of tumors in which one or bothpathways is deranged (Katoh, Stem Cell Rev. 3:30-38, 2007).

Combined use of an Indian Hedgehog (IHH) antagonist and a BMP antagonistas described herein may inhibit pathologic bone formation. IHH isresponsible for the commitment of bone precursors to chondrocyte orcartilage forming cells. Endochondral bone formation involvescoordinated activity of both chondrogenesis (promoted by BMP signals andIHH signals) and their subsequent calcification by mineralizationprograms initiated by BMP signals (Seki et al. J. Biol. Chem.279:18544-18549, 2004; Minina et al. Development 128:4523-4534, 2001).Coadministration of an IHH antagonist with a BMP antagonist as describedherein, therefore, may be more effective in inhibiting pathological bonegrowth due to hyperactive BMP signaling (such as in FOP), or in any ofthe inflammatory or traumatic disorders of pathologic bone formationdescribed above.

Strong experimental evidence exists for an effect of both Smo antagonismand BMP antagonism for treating glioblastoma. Compounds as describedherein may be used in combination with Smo antagonists to treatglioblastoma.

E. Manufacture of a Medicament

In one aspect, the invention relates to methods for the manufacture of amedicament for modulating BMP signaling in a subject in need thereof,comprising combining a compound of the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof, with a    pharmaceutical carrier.

F. Uses of Compounds

In one aspect, the invention relates to uses of compounds for modulatingBMP signaling in a subject in need thereof, wherein the compound has astructure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein:

-   W, X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;-   A is substituted or unsubstituted and selected from cycloalkyl,    heterocycloalkyl, aryl or heteroaryl;-   R is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    NR₁R₂, COR₁R₂, CR₁R₂, S(O)₀₋₂NR₁R₂; S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or    heteroaryl;-   D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂ or NH or NR₁ or NR₁R₂ or    S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂;-   E is selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl,    C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂    cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl;-   R₁ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁; and-   R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, and further, R₁    and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl    containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof,    or a pharmaceutically acceptable derivative thereof.

In addition to being administered to patients in therapeutic methods,compounds as described herein can also be used to treat cells andtissues, as well as structural materials to be implanted into patients(see above), ex vivo. For example, the compounds can be used to treatexplanted tissues that may be used, for example, in transplantation.

G. Experimental

The following examples are put forth so as to provide those of ordinaryskill in the art with a complete disclosure and description of how thecompounds, compositions, articles, devices and/or methods claimed hereinare made and evaluated, and are intended to be purely exemplary of theinvention and are not intended to limit the scope of what the inventorsregard as their invention. Efforts have been made to ensure accuracywith respect to numbers (e.g., amounts, temperature, etc.), but someerrors and deviations should be accounted for. Unless indicatedotherwise, parts are parts by weight, temperature is in ° C. or is atambient temperature, and pressure is at or near atmospheric.

General. All NMR spectra were recorded on a 400 MHz AMX Bruker NMRspectrometer. ¹H chemical shifts are reported in δ values in ppmdownfield with the deuterated solvent as the internal standard. Data arereported as follows: chemical shift, multiplicity (s=singlet, d=doublet,t=triplet, q=quartet, br=broad, m=multiplet), integration, couplingconstant (Hz). Low resolution mass spectra were obtained on an Agilent1200 series 6130 mass spectrometer with electrospray ionization. Highresolution mass spectra were recorded on a Waters Q-TOF API-US plusAcquity system with electrospray ionization. Analytical thin layerchromatography was performed on EM Reagent 0.25 mm silica gel 60-Fplates. Analytical HPLC was performed on an Agilent 1200 series with UVdetection at 215 nm and 254 nm along with ELSD detection. LC/MS:(Phenomenex-C18, 2.1×30 mm, 1 min gradient, 7%[0.1% TFA/CH₃CN]:93%[0.1%TFA/H₂O] to 95%[0.1% TFA/CH₃CN]. Preparative purification was performedon a custom HP1100 purification system (reference 16) with collectiontriggered by mass detection. Solvents for extraction, washing andchromatography were HPLC grade. All reagents were purchased from AldrichChemical Co. and were used without purification.

7-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

To a mixture of 4-chloropyridin-2-amine (1.0 g, 7.78 mmol, 1.0 eq) andNaHCO₃ (1.31 g, 15.56 mmol, 2.0 eq) in EtOH (18 mL) was addedchloroacetaldehyde, 50% wt in water, (1.48 mL, 11.67 mmol, 1.5 eq). Thereaction mixture was heated to reflux. After 10 h, the solvent wasremoved under reduced pressure and the residue was partitioned betweenEtOAc: H₂O (1:1, 100 mL). The organic layer was washed with Brine (50mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated. The material was takenthrough without further purification.

LCMS: R_(T)=0.123 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=153.0 [M+H]⁺.

7-chloro-3-iodoimidazo [1,2-a]pyridine

To a solution of 7-chloroimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (7.78 mmol, 1.0 eq) inDMF (12 mL) at rt was added N-iodosuccinimide (1.84 g, 8.17 mmol, 1.05eq). After 16 h, the brown slurry was diluted with H₂O (100 mL) andBrine (15 mL). The mixture was extracted with EtOAc (100 mL). Theaqueous layer was re-extracted with EtOAc (100 mL) and the collectedorganic layers were washed with H₂O (2×20 mL), 10% sodium thiosulfate(20 mL), Brine (20 mL) and dried (MgSO₄). After filtration, the solutionwas concentrated. The residue was triturated with diethyl ether (15 mL)and filtered to afford an off-white solid (1.58 g, 73% yield over 2steps).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.265 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=279.0 [M+H]⁺.

7-chloro-3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

In a μwave vial, 7-chloro-3-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (0.39 g, 1.38mmol, 1.0 eq), phenyl boronic acid (0.18 g, 1.45 mmol, 1.05 eq), andPd(dppf)Cl₂ (50.5 mg, 0.07 mmol, 0.05 eq) were added. The solid mixturewas evacuated under vacuo and purged with Argon (3×). To the mixture wasadded 1,4-dioxane (6 mL), followed by a solution of K₃PO₄ (0.59 g, 2.76mmol, 2.0 eq) in H₂O (2.5 mL). The reaction was heated to 120° C. for 30min under microwave irradiation. The reaction was added to EtOAc: H₂O(1:1, 120 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×25mL), Brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated. Thematerial was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (15-40% acetonitrile: H₂Ow/0.1% TFA) to provide 7-chloro-3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (0.30 g,96% yield).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.458 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=229.0 [M+H]⁺.

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

In a μwave vial, 7-chloro-3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (5) (25.0 mg,0.11 mmol, 1.0 eq), boronic acid 6 (22.0 mg, 0.121 mmol, 1.1 eq), andPd(dppf)Cl₂ (4.0 mg, 0.006 mmol, 0.05 eq) were added. The solid mixturewas evacuated under vacuo and purged with Argon (3×). To the mixture wasadded 1,4-dioxane (2 mL), followed by a solution of K₂CO₃ (30.0 mg, 0.22mmol, 2.0 eq) in H₂O (1.0 mL). The reaction was heated to 150° C. for 30min under microwave irradiation. The reaction was added to EtOAc: H₂O(1:1, 20 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (5 mL),Brine (5 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated. The material waspurified by reverse-phase HPLC (30-65% acetonitrile: H₂O w/0.1% TFA) toafford 7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (5.30 mg,15% yield).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.714 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=329.0 [M+H]⁺.

7-chloro-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

In a μwave vial, 7-chloro-3-iodoimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (3) (0.31 g, 1.13mmol, 1.0 eq), 4-pyridyl boronic acid (0.15 g, 1.24 mmol, 1.1 eq), andPd(dppf)Cl₂ (41.0 mg, 0.06 mmol, 0.05 eq) were added. The solid mixturewas evacuated under vacuo and purged with Argon (3×). To the mixture wasadded 1,4-dioxane (5 mL), followed by a solution of K₃PO₄ (0.48 g, 2.26mmol, 2.0 eq) in H₂O (2.0 mL). The reaction was heated to 120° C. for 30min under microwave irradiation. The reaction was added to EtOAc: H₂O(1:1, 120 mL). The organic layer was separated, washed with H₂O (2×25mL), Brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated. Thematerial was taken through without further purification.

LCMS: R_(T)=0.147 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=230.0 [M+H]⁺.

4-(3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenol

In a μwave vial, 7-chloro-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (0.28g, 1.23 mmol, 1.0 eq), 4-hydroxyphenyl boronic acid (0.19 g, 1.35 mmol,1.1 eq), and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (45.0 mg, 0.06 mmol, 0.05 eq) were added. Thesolid mixture was evacuated under vacuo and purged with Argon (3×). Tothe mixture was added 1,4-dioxane (5 mL), followed by a solution ofK₂CO₃ (0.34 g, 2.46 mmol, 2.0 eq) in H₂O (2.0 mL). The reaction washeated to 150° C. for 30 min under microwave irradiation. The reactionwas added to EtOAc: H₂O (1:1, 20 mL). The organic layer was separated,washed with H₂O (5 mL), Brine (5 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered andconcentrated. The material was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (5-35%acetonitrile: H₂O w/0.1% TFA) to afford4-(3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenol (53.0 mg, 15%yield).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.343 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=288.0 [M+H]⁺.

7-(4-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

To a μwave vial was added4-(3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenol (29.5 mg, 0.10mmol, 1.0 eq), Cs₂CO₃ (134.0 mg, 0.411 mmol, 4.0 eq), KI (16.6 mg, 0.10mmol, 1.0 eq), 1-(2-chloroethyl)piperidine hydrochloride (20.3 mg, 0.11mmol, 1.1 eq) and DMF (1.5 mL). The r×n was subjected to microwaveirradiatation for 10 min at 120° C. The reaction was filtered through aCelite plug and the solution was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (5-35%acetonitrile: H₂O w/0.1% TFA) to afford7-(4-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine(15.02 mg, 38% yield).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.404 min, >98% @ 215 and 254 nM, m/z=399.0 [M+H]⁺.

4-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine

In a μwave vial, 4-bromopyridin-2-amine (0.50 g, 2.89 mmol, 1.0 eq),boronic ester (0.92 g, 3.03 mmol, 1.05 eq), and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (106 mg,0.15 mmol, 0.05 eq) were added. The solid mixture was evacuated undervacuo and purged with Argon (3×). To the mixture was added 1,4-dioxane(12 mL), followed by a solution of K₃PO₄ (1.23 g, 5.78 mmol, 2.0 eq) inH₂O (5.0 mL). The reaction was heated to 120° C. for 30 min undermicrowave irradiation. To the reaction was added EtOAc (15 mL) and ther×n was filtered. The solid was rinsed with cold EtOAc (2 mL). Thematerial was taken through without further purification.

LCMS: R_(T)=0.285 min, >98% @ 215 nM and ELSD, m/z=269.1 [M+H]⁺.

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

To a mixture of 4-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)pyridin-2-amine(2.89 mmol, 1.0 eq) and NaHCO₃ (0.49 g, 5.78 mmol, 2.0 eq) in EtOH (30mL) was added chloroacetaldehyde, 50% wt in water, (0.56 mL, 4.34 mmol,1.5 eq). The reaction mixture was heated to reflux. After 18 h, thesolvent was removed under reduced pressure and the residue waspartitioned between EtOAc: H₂O (1:1, 100 mL). The organic layer waswashed with Brine (50 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered and concentrated. Thematerial was taken through without further purification.

LCMS: R_(T)=0.343 min, >90% @ 215 nM and ELSD, m/z=293.1 [M+H]⁺.

7-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)thieno[3,2-b]pyridine

In a μwave vial,7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (23 mg, 0.08mmol, 1.1 eq), 7-chlorothieno[3,2-b]pyridine (8 μL, 0.071 mmol, 1.0 eq),KOAc (14.0 mg, 0.143 mmol, 2.0 eq) and Pd(OAc)₂ (˜1 mg, 0.001 eq) wereadded, followed by the addition of DMA (1.5 mL). The reaction was heatedto 200° C. for 30 min under microwave irradiation. To the reaction wasadded DMSO (0.5 mL) and after filtration through a Celite plug, thesolution was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (20-55% acetonitrile: H₂Ow/0.1% TFA) to afford7-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)thieno[3,2-b]pyridine(14.0 mg, 47% yield).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.361 min, >98% @ 215 nM and ELSD, m/z=370.1 [M+H]⁺.

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

Compound 7-(4-isopropoxyphenyeimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine was prepared in asimilar manner to7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine.

LCMS: R_(T)=0.578 min, >98% @ 220 and 254 nM, m/z=253.1 [M+H]⁺.

3-iodo-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

To a solution of compound 7-(4-isopropoxyphenyeimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine(2.89 mmol, 1.0 eq) in DMF (20 mL) at rt was added N-iodosuccinimide(0.68 g, 3.03 mmol, 1.05 eq). After 16 h, the brown slurry was dilutedwith H₂O (100 mL) and Brine (15 mL). The mixture was extracted withEtOAc (100 mL). The aqueous layer was re-extracted with EtOAc (100 mL)and the collected organic layers were washed with H₂O (2×20 mL), 10%sodium thiosulfate (20 mL), Brine (20 mL) and dried (MgSO₄). Afterfiltration, the solution was concentrated and the material was takenthrough without further purification.

LCMS: R_(T)=0.640 min, >95% @ 220 nM and ELSD, m/z=378.9 [M+H]⁺.

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine

In a μwave vial, 3-iodo-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine (35mg, 0.093 mmol, 1.0 eq), (2-methylpyridin-4-yl)boronic acid (15 mg, 0.11mmol, 1.2 eq), and Pd(dppf)Cl₂ (4.0 mg, 0.005 mmol, 0.05 eq) were added.The solid mixture was evacuated under vacuo and purged with Argon (3×).To the mixture was added 1,4-dioxane (2 mL), followed by a solution ofK₃PO₄ (40 mg, 0.19 mmol, 2.0 eq) in H₂O (0.5 mL). The reaction washeated to 120° C. for 30 min under microwave irradiation. The reactionwas added to EtOAc: H₂O (1:1, 20 mL). The organic layer was separated,washed with H₂O (2×25 mL), Brine (25 mL), dried (MgSO₄), filtered andconcentrated. The residue was purified by reverse-phase HPLC (20-55%acetonitrile: H₂O w/0.1% TFA) to afford7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine(4.3 mg, 14% yield).

LCMS: R_(T)=0.544 min, >98% @ 215 nM and ELSD, m/z=344.1 [M+H]⁺.

Example Compound Name M + H 1

4-(2-(4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine 451 2

5-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)isoquinoline 380 3

4-(2-(4-(3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine 401 4

7-(4-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 399 5

4-(7-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 380 6

7-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 330 7

7-(4-(tert-butyl)phenyl)-3-(pyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 328 8

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(pyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 330 9

7-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-(pyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 364 10

5-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 380 11

8-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 380 12

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(naphthalen-1- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 379 13

6-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoxaline 381 14

3-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 380 15

4-(3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)aniline 286 16

6-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)isoquinoline 380 17

7-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)isoquinoline 380 18

4-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)isoquinoline 380 19

4-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 380 20

N-(4-(3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7- yl)phenyl)picolinamide 391 21

4-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 420 22

4-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)phenol 345 23

4-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-N,N-dimethylaniline 372 24

6-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 380 25

3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-7-(4- isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine364 26

3-(2-fluoropyridin-4-yl)-7-(4- isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine348 27

7-chloro-4-(7-(4- isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin- 3-yl)quinoline414 28

3-(2′-chloro-[2,4′-bipyridin]-4-yl)-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 441 29

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(pyrimidin-5- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 331 30

4-(2-(4-(3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7- yl)phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine400 31

4-(3-phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenol 287 32

7-(4-phenoxyphenyl)-3-phenylimidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 363 33

7-(6-methoxypyridin-3-yl)-3-phenylimidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 302 34

3-phenyl-7-(4-(2-(piperidin-1- yl)ethoxy)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine398 35

3-phenyl-7-(4-propoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 329 36

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-phenylimidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 329 37

3-phenyl-7-(4- (trifluoromethoxy)phenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 355 38

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-phenylimidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 329 39

3-(1,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 347 40

3-(3,5-dimethyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 347 41

4-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- c]pyrimidin-3-yl)quinoline 381 42

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(1H-pyrazol-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 319 43

3-(1-(4-fluorophenyl)-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 413 44

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(3-methyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 333 45

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(2-methylpyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine344 46

3-(3-bromo-2-fluoropyridin-4-yl)-7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 427 47

4-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-7-(trifluoromethyl)quinoline 488 48

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-(3-methylpyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 384 49

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-(thiophen-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 375 50

4-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-2-(trifluoromethyl)quinoline 488 51

2-methyl-4-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 434 52

5-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridin-3-yl)thiazole 336 53

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(thiophen-3- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 335 54

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(3-methylpyridin-4- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine344 55

7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-3-(thiophen-2- yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 335 56

3-(4-fluorophenyl)-7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 387 57

3-(benzo[b]thiophen-2-yl)-7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 425 58

4-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)benzonitrile 394 59

5-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)benzo[d]thiazole 426 60

7-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)thieno[2,3-b]pyrazine 427 61

1-methyl-5-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)-1H- benzo[d]imidazole 423 62

7-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)thieno[3,2-b]pyridine 426 63

3-fluoro-5-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3- yl)benzonitrile 412 64

5-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1- yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridin-3-yl)benzo[c][1,2,5]thiadiazole 427 65

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3- phenylimidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 36966

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-(pyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 370 67

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-(2-methylpyridin-4-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 384 68

3-(2-chloropyridin-4-yl)-7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)imidazo[1,2- a]pyridine 404 69

7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-3-(pyridin-3-yl)imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine 370 70

4-(7-(4-(4-methylpiperazin-1-yl)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 421 71

4-(2-(4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenoxy)ethyl)morpholine 452 72

N,N-dimethyl-2-(4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenoxy)propan-1-amine 424 73

4-(7-(4-(2-(piperidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 450 74

4-(7-(4-(2-(pyrrolidin-1-yl)ethoxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 436 75

N,N-dimethyl-1-(4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)- [1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)phenoxy)propan-2-amine 424 76

4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-7-yl)phenol 339 77

4-(7-(4-methoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 35378

4-(7-(4-propoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 38179

4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-7-yl)phenyl acetate381 80

4-(7-(4-butoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 39581

4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-7-yl)phenyl benzoate443 82

4-(7-(4-(cyclopentyloxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 407 83

4-(7-(4-isopropoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline381 84

4-(7-(4-ethoxyphenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 36785

4-(7-(4-(allyloxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3- a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline379 86

4-(7-(4-(sec-butoxy)phenyl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-3-yl)quinoline 395 87

1-cyclopentyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin- 2(1H)-one 408 88

1-ethyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one 368 89

1-isopropyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin- 2(1H)-one 382 90

1-methyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin- 2(1H)-one 354 91

1-butyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one 396 92

1-propyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin- 2(1H)-one 382 93

1-allyl-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one 380 94

4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin-2(1H)-one 340 95

1-(sec-butyl)-4-(3-(quinolin-4-yl)-[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyridin-7-yl)pyridin- 2(1H)-one 396

Example R R₁ BMP4 Cell IC₅₀ (nM) 1

62 2

3

4

5

6

6,100 7

8

9

10

>10,000 11

12

Inactive 13

inactive 14

Inactive 15

Negative 16

Inactive 17

Inactive 18

Negative 19

Negative 20

970 21

1,250 22

>10,000 23

Negative 24

Potentiates @ 1- 10 uM 25

Potentiates @ 1- 10 uM 26

Potentiates @ 0.5- 10 uM 27

Negative 28

730 29

inactive 30

>10,000 31

670 32

Negative 33

>10,000 34

Potentiates @ 0.1- 10 uM 35

Potentiates @ 1 uM but decrease @ 10 uM 36

Potentiates @ 0.1- 10 uM 37

Potentiates @ 1- 10 uM 38

Potentiates @ 0.5- 10 uM 39

Potentiates @ 0.1- 10 uM 40

Negative 41

42

43

2890

Actually induces/potentiates at 0.5-10 uM (5- 25-2012)

Actually induces/potentiates BMP reproter (5- 31-2012, set 9)

8100

Example R₁ BMP4 Cell IC₅₀ (nM) 44

   <10 45

>10,000 (TFA) 46

   5,000 (TFA) 47

   5,000 (TFA) 48

inhibits at 10 uM 49

     4.5 50

Inhibits at 10 uM 51

No inhibition to 10 uM 52

PARTIAL INHIBITION 53

Inhibits at 10 uM 54

     59 55

No inhibition to 10 uM 56

     11.6 57

  10,000 58

No inhibition to 10 uM. 59

Induces at 0.1-1 uM. Partially inhibits @ 5 uM. KILLS at 10 uM 60

    100 61

     40 62

     58 63

Inhibits at 10 uM, but not at 5 uM 64

   <10 (TFA) 65

Potent: Inhibits 50% @ 5 uM, fully @ 10 uM 66

Active at 10 uM 67

Weakly Potent: Inhibits @ 5 uM, fully @ 10 uM (#26, 10-24-2012) 69

Weakly Potent: Inhibits @ 5 uM, fully @ 10 uM (#26, 10-24-2012) 69

    1280 (TFA) 70

   <10 71

     16.6 72

inhibition at 10 uM

BMP Type 1 receptor (nM) ALK1/ ALK3/ ALK4/ ALK5/ ALK6/ Entry ALK2/ACVR1ACVR1 BMPRR1A ACVR1B TGFBR1 BMPR1B 1 53.1 49.6 52 31,000 23,000 151.2 5270.0 21 24.0 6.4 7.9 ND 3960 11 25 155.0 87 118 ND 13,600 340 26265.0 >100,000 30 645.1 >100,000 42 1970.0 494 92 ND >100,000 895 45149.0 3490 51 26.5 60 1.3 40.1 62 14.4 50.8 66 46.0 67 20.0 68 33.2 40.6

The invention now being generally described, it will be more readilyunderstood by reference to the following examples which are includedmerely for purposes of illustration of certain aspects and embodimentsof the present invention, and are not intended to limit the invention.

We claim:
 1. A compound having a structure represented by the following formula (I):

wherein: X, Y, and Z are independently N or CH;

each A₁ is independently O,S,CR₁R₂ or NR₁; R is selected from CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, S(O)₀₋₂, NR₁R₂, or S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂; M is substituted or unsubstituted and is selected from aryl or heteroaryl; D is selected from a bond, O, CR₁R₂, NH, NR₁, NR₁R₂, or S(O)₀₋₂R₁R₂; E is absent or selected from H, CF₃, halogen, CN, alkyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or —(CH₂)_(x)—C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl; R₁ is absent or selected from H, alkyl, aryl, or heteraryl; and R₂ is selected from H, alkyl, aryl, heteraryl, COR₁, or R₁ and R₂ can form a C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ cycloheteroalkyl containing O, N or S; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof.
 2. A compound of claim 1, wherein X, Y and Z together help form:


3. A compound of claim 1, wherein X, Y and Z together help form:


4. A compound of claim 1, wherein M is optionally substituted with one or more R, and is selected from C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkyl, C₃-C₁₂ cycloalkenyl, aryl, heteroaryl, C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkyl or C₃-C₁₂ heterocycloalkenyl.
 5. A compound of claim 4, wherein M is optionally substituted phenyl or pyridine.
 6. A compound of claim 1, wherein M, D, and E together form:


7. A compound of claim 1, wherein A is chosen from the following:


8. A compound of one of the following structures:

or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. 